SULAIMANI (ESTA) — The Iranian foreign minister held talks with senior Kurdish officials in Erbil on Tuesday to discuss several topics including trade and investment between the Region and Iran.
Mohammad Javad Zarif arrived in the Kurdistan Region on Tuesday, following his two-day visit to Baghdad where he met senior officials including Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi and President Barham Salih as well as political leaders.
Zarif met with Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Prime Minister Masrour Barzani, Deputy Prime Minister Qubad Talabani and President Nechirvan Barzani in Erbil.
In his meeting with the prime minister and his deputy, they agreed that the security situation in the region should remain a priority for all sides, according to a KRG statement.
“Efforts to maintain peace and stability requires broad cooperation based on a mutual respect and understanding between partners,” Barzani said.
They two sides also discussed trade and investment. Zarif welcomed talks on how to develop them between the Region and Iran, the statement read.
Zarif also discussed with the Kurdish president border trade and commercial exchange between the Kurdistan Region and Iran, a separate statement released by the Region’s presidency said.
The Iranian foreign minister confirmed Iran’s willingness to strengthen its long-established relations with the Kurdistan Region, according to the statement.
He also expressed concern over rocket attacks on Erbil, stressing that “Iran seeks to establish regional security and peace, and that stability vibrant commerce and trade are in the best interest of both sides,” the Region’s presidency cited him as saying.
Zarif also held talks with Co-leaders of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) Bafel Talabani and Lahur Sheikh Jangi in Erbil.
They discussed the latest developments and strengthening economic and trade relations between the Kurdistan Region and Iran during the meeting.
