President Barzani welcomes Iranian President Pezeshkian in first official foreign trip
Shafaq News/ Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian arrived in the Kurdistan Region on Thursday morning, Accompanied by a high-level delegation, Pezeshkian’s visit aims to strengthen ties between Iran and the autonomous Kurdish region.
Shafaq News correspondent reported that Kurdish President Nechirvan Barzani, Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein, and several officials welcomed Iranian President with an official ceremony at Erbil International Airport.
The Iranian president is scheduled to hold several meetings with Kurdish leaders in Erbil then head to Al-Sulaymaniyah.
The visit follows Pezeshkian’s arrival in Baghdad on Wednesday, where he met with key Iraqi leaders, including President Abdul Latif Jamal Rashid, PM Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani, Acting Speaker of Parliament Mohsen al-Mandalawi, and Chief Justice Faiq Zidan, as well as several political figures.
“This visit is a key moment in fortifying Iran's relationships with neighboring countries, particularly the Kurdistan region,” Iranian Consul General in Al-Sulaymaniyah, Mohammad Mahmoudian, said during a press conference. Pezeshkian is scheduled to meet with Kurdish officials in both Erbil and Al-Sulaymaniyah, including leaders of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK).
sources told Shafaq News that Pezeshkian’s arrival was met with heightened security, particularly in Al-Sulaymaniyah, where local security forces, including commandos, the Asayish, and Peshmerga units, were deployed across the city. “The security forces have secured key locations, especially in Baznai Malek Mahmoud Street and surrounding areas, as part of efforts to ensure the safety of the visit.”
"Strengthening bilateral relations, especially with the Kurdistan region, is a key priority for Iran," Mahmoudian added, highlighting the importance of regional stability and collaboration.
Pezeshkian is expected to hold discussions focused on economic partnerships and border security, which have been long-standing areas of cooperation between Iran and the Kurdistan region.
