Tom Barrack, the U.S. Special Presidential Envoy to Iraq and Syria and U.S. Ambassador to Turkey, told Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Prime Minister Masrour Barzani on Tuesday that U.S. President Donald Trump has a special respect for the Kurdish people and President Masoud Barzani.

KRG Prime Minister Barzani received Ambassador Barrack and his delegation, which included Joshua Harris, Charge d’Affaires of the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad, and Major General Kevin J. Lambert, Commander of the Combined Joint Task Force - Operation Inherent Resolve.

Prime Minister Barzani expressed the Kurdistan Region’s gratitude for the continued cooperation and support of the United States, and stressed the importance of strengthening bilateral relations in various fields.

“A pleasure meeting U.S. Special Presidential Envoy Tom Barrack again today to discuss the longstanding Kurdistan-U.S. partnership,” Prime Minister Barzani posted on X.

“I expressed my gratitude for continued American support and President Trump’s friendship with our nation. We agreed to continue to advance trade and energy investment, and to support the new federal government to serve all Iraqis equally and on the basis of the Constitution.”

In addition to praising the progress and prosperity of the Kurdistan Region, Ambassador Barrack said that President Trump has a special respect for the Kurdish people, the Kurdistan Region, and the leadership of President Masoud Barzani.

Both officials agreed on the importance of further developing trade relations between the United States, Iraq, and the Kurdistan Region, as well as the participation of U.S. companies in Iraq and Kurdistan, particularly in the energy sector.

They also stressed the need to support the new federal government led by Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi, to promote economic development, and serve all Iraqi citizens and communities equally and without distinction, as well as resolving issues with the Kurdistan Region on the basis of the Constitution.

Both sides also agreed on the importance of reactivating the Kurdistan Region Parliament, forming a new KRG cabinet, and ending the political stalemate as soon as possible.

“We stressed the urgency of reactivating the Kurdistan Parliament and forming a new KRG cabinet to move past the current political stalemate,” Prime Minister Barzani posted on X.

A new KRG cabinet still has not been formed following elections held on October 20, 2024.During a meeting yesterday with the UK Ambassador to Iraq Irfan Siddiq, Prime Minister Barzani also underlined the importance of reactivating the Kurdistan Region Parliament.