Pezeshkian becomes first Iranian president to visit Iraqi Kurdistan with stops at Erbil, Sulaimaniyah

In a landmark moment for Iran-Kurdish relations, Iranian President Masud Pezeshkian arrived in Erbil today, becoming the first Iranian leader to visit the Kurdish region of Iraq. The historic visit is seen as part of Tehran's broader strategic outreach amid shifting geopolitical dynamics in Iraq and the wider Middle East.

Pezeshkian's first meeting in Erbil took place at the Kurdistan Regional Presidency, where he was greeted by Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani at Erbil International Airport. The two leaders, joined by Kurdistan Prime Minister Masrour Barzani and other senior officials, discussed strengthening political, economic, and cultural ties.

Both sides expressed a commitment to resolving outstanding issues and capitalising on shared interests. Nechirvan Barzani described the visit as "historic" and pivotal for future bilateral relations.

The Iranian president also met with Masoud Barzani, the leader of the ruling Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and former president of the Kurdistan Region, where he extended an official invitation for Barzani to visit Iran. 

The meeting focused on regional developments, with both leaders emphasising the need for continued cooperation. Pezeshkian’s engagement with Kurdistan’s leadership signals Tehran’s intent to strengthen relations with Iraq's Kurdish population, which has historically maintained an uneasy relationship with Iran.

Following his meetings in Erbil, Pezeshkian traveled to Sulaimaniyah, where he was welcomed by Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) leader Bafel Talabani and local officials. His visit included a significant gesture—laying a wreath at the grave of the late Iraqi President Jalal Talabani, a revered figure in Kurdish and Iraqi politics.

 Pezeshkian signed the visitors’ book, paying respect to the Talabani legacy, and later met with PUK leadership to discuss bolstering political and economic cooperation.

Broader diplomatic outreach

Pezeshkian’s Kurdish visit followed his arrival in Baghdad on Wednesday, September 11, marking his first foreign trip since taking office in July. Upon landing in the Iraqi capital, Pezeshkian was welcomed by Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani at the Government Palace, where discussions focused on strengthening bilateral relations in the fields of energy, trade, and security. 

The two nations signed 14 memoranda of understanding covering key areas like agriculture, energy, and infrastructure.
During the Baghdad visit, Pezeshkian reiterated Tehran's commitment to deepening political and economic cooperation with Iraq, particularly in light of ongoing US sanctions against Iran.

Pezeshkian’s visit to Iraq comes at a time of heightened regional tensions, particularly as Israel continues its war on Gaza, southern Lebanon, and Yemen. These conflicts have intensified the geopolitical atmosphere in the Middle East, with Iran playing a significant role in supporting groups aligned against Israel, including Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Houthis in Yemen. Observers see Pezeshkian's visit as a strategic move by Tehran to assert its influence in Iraq amid these ongoing conflicts.

Additionally, Pezeshkian’s visit occurs against the backdrop of Iran’s history of military actions in the Kurdistan region. In recent years, Iran has launched several ballistic missile and suicide drone attacks targeting Iranian Kurdish opposition groups based in the region.

 In one particularly significant incident on January 15, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) launched a barrage of ballistic missiles at Erbil, claiming to have struck a "Zionist regime's spy headquarters" allegedly linked to Israel's Mossad. 

However, no evidence was provided to substantiate this claim, and both Iraqi and Kurdish officials refuted Iran's assertions. The missile strike resulted in the deaths of four people, including two businessmen, and injured six others, sparking outrage in the Kurdistan region and further complicating Iran's relations with the Kurdish leadership.

Abdul Ghani Ghazban, an Iraqi political analyst, commented on the broader implications of Pezeshkian's trip, stating to The New Arab, "Pezeshkian's visit is both protocol and political, signalling to neighbouring countries and the West that Iran’s ties with Iraq, including the Kurdish region, remain solid despite past tensions. However, security matters in Iraq are largely overseen by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) under the direct authority of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei."

Ghazban emphasised that while the current discussions focus on diplomacy and cooperation, Iran's broader strategic goals are clear. "Iran wants to communicate to the region, and particularly to the United States, that it remains a key player in Iraq and the Middle East."

Iran-Kurdish Relations on the Rise

Regarding Pezeshkian's outreach to the Kurdistan Region, Ghazban noted that "The visit is aimed at reinforcing Iran’s relationship with the Kurdish region after years of strain. The ties are now recovering positively." Pezeshkian also seeks to address vital economic issues, particularly trade and water flow from Iran to Iraq.

"Tehran considers Iraq its lifeline amid suffocating US sanctions on Iran," Ghazban added, stressing that Iran is pushing to unfreeze its funds in Iraq while also navigating sovereignty issues, such as the restoration of water flow from the Karun River, which has been a source of contention.

Pezeshkian's tour will conclude with visits to southern Iraq, where he is expected to stop in the province of Basra, as well as the two holy cities of Najaf and Karbala. These sites hold deep religious and cultural significance for Iran, and Pezeshkian’s pilgrimage to the holy cities is likely to underscore the deep ties between the two countries' Shia populations.

As Pezeshkian's visit unfolds, it is clear that Iran is not only looking to solidify political and economic ties with Iraq but also to strengthen its strategic influence in the broader Middle East, especially in the face of ongoing regional conflicts.

His meetings with Kurdish leaders mark a new phase in Iran-Kurdish relations.