The United Nations Security Council is convening an emergency session Tuesday evening to discuss Iraq’s worsening political and humanitarian situation, with particular attention to the growing rift between the federal government in Baghdad and the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) in Erbil. The meeting comes amid rising tensions over unpaid salaries, oil revenue disputes, and regional security concerns involving Turkey.

Mohamed Al Hassan, the UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Iraq and head of the UN Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI), will deliver a detailed report on the situation. His briefing is expected to highlight the Iraqi government’s controversial decision to withhold salaries for KRG civil servants, a move that has plunged the Kurdish region into a deepening humanitarian crisis. The report will also address the broader political stalemate between Erbil and Baghdad, including disputes over oil exports and budget allocations.

The KRG has strongly condemned the salary suspension, calling it a politically motivated act of coercion. Kurdish officials insist they have fully complied with Iraq’s federal budget law and accuse Baghdad of deliberately exacerbating economic hardship in the Kurdistan Region. "This is not just about finances—it’s about undermining Kurdish rights and autonomy," a senior KRG official stated. The unpaid salaries have left tens of thousands of public sector workers in dire straits, with many struggling to afford basic necessities.

Another key issue on the Security Council’s agenda is the presence of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) in northern Iraq, which has drawn repeated military operations from Turkey. Some UN member states are reportedly pushing for the PKK’s withdrawal as a way to ease tensions, but the KRG has cautioned against unilateral demands that could destabilize the region further. The debate underscores the complex geopolitical dynamics at play, with Iraq caught between domestic disputes and cross-border security challenges.

With Baghdad and Erbil at an impasse, the UN’s role in facilitating dialogue is seen as critical. Diplomats suggest the Security Council may urge immediate steps to resume salary payments and restart negotiations on oil and budget disputes. However, prospects for a breakthrough remain uncertain, as both sides have hardened their positions in recent months.