Erbil, Kurdistan Region – Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani met with US Consul General Steve Bittner on Saturday as the American diplomat concluded his tenure in Erbil.

During the meeting, PM Barzani thanked the United States for its continued support and praised Bittner’s efforts in strengthening bilateral relations between the Kurdistan Region and the US across various sectors, according to a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office.

Bittner expressed his appreciation for the cooperation extended by the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) during his mission and underscored the importance of further deepening US-Kurdistan Region ties.

Both sides reaffirmed the significance of resuming the Kurdistan Region’s oil exports, a key economic issue for the semi-autonomous region. They also emphasized the need to protect the Kurdistan Region’s federal status within Iraq and ensure that the constitutional rights and financial entitlements of the Kurdish people are upheld.

The meeting highlighted ongoing discussions between Erbil and Baghdad over budget disputes and oil revenue sharing, as well as broader US support for stability and cooperation in the region.