President Masoud Barzani met on Wednesday with U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Michael Rigas and his accompanying delegation at the U.S. Embassy in Iraq, during an official visit to the Kurdistan Region.

Deputy Secretary Rigas expressed his pleasure at visiting the Region and congratulated President Barzani on the successful Iraqi parliamentary elections and the electoral gains of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP). He also conveyed his appreciation for President Barzani’s leadership in advancing the Kurdistan Region, confronting terrorism, and safeguarding regional stability.

Rigas reaffirmed Washington’s commitment to strengthening and expanding its partnership with the Kurdistan Region across all sectors. He described the inauguration of the United States’ largest consulate in Erbil as a significant milestone, underscoring America’s support for a “strong, stable, secure, and prosperous Kurdistan Region.” He stressed that the Region’s stability is vital for the wider Middle East and reiterated U.S. support in this regard.
He also strongly condemned the recent attack on the Khurmor gas field, calling for an end to such acts of sabotage.

President Barzani described the opening of the new U.S. consulate as a “historic day” in relations between the Kurdistan Region and the United States. He reflected on the long history of persecution suffered by the Kurdish people under successive Iraqi regimes and highlighted the transformative opportunities made possible after the 1991 uprising and the establishment of the no-fly zone by the United States and the UN Security Council. These developments, he noted, allowed the Kurdistan Region to pursue a democratic path—forming its own government, parliament, and institutions.

Barzani also emphasized the crucial role of the United States in the fight against ISIS, noting the heavy sacrifices made by the Peshmerga forces and acknowledging that losses would have been far greater without American assistance.

Expressing the deep gratitude of the Kurdish people, President Barzani commended the United States for its continued support. He reaffirmed the Kurdistan Region’s commitment to further strengthening and deepening bilateral relations in all areas.