On Wednesday, President Masoud Barzani received a delegation led by U.S. Ambassador Steve Fagin, Chargé d’Affaires of the U.S. Embassy in Iraq, who underlined that the end of the Coalition’s mission on September 30 does not mean the end of the U.S. commitment to the Kurdistan Region.According to the readout from the President’s headquarters, the delegation recalled that Coalition forces had been present at the Iraqi government’s request and had defeated ISIS in cooperation with the Peshmerga and Iraqi forces. They also emphasized that, through bilateral relations, the United States remains committed to stability and partnership with the Kurdistan Region and Iraq across the security, economic, political, and military spheres.On September 30, the last troops of the U.S.-led Coalition left the Kurdistan Region and Iraq, as part of a 2024 agreement between Iraq and the United States.

U.S. Ambassador Fagin also thanked President Barzani for his continued support for Iraq’s political process.

President Barzani said that the Kurdistan Region has based its relations with Iraq on the Iraqi Constitution and the principles of partnership, balance, and consensus. President Barzani said his position had been clear from the outset: “We have not been part of the tensions, and we will not become part of the conflicts and disputes.” He called on all parties to resolve their differences through dialogue and diplomacy amid ongoing tensions between the United States and Iran and expectations that a new round of clashes could erupt between the two countries.

The Kurdistan Region has faced more than 1,000 drone and missile attacks from Iran and Iran-allied Iraqi factions since February 28, after the United States and Israel launched strikes against Iran.