President Barzani met with the chargé d’affaires of the U.S. Embassy in Iraq. The meeting, which was also attended by Gwendoline Wendy Green, the U.S. consul general in Erbil, addressed the situation in Iraq, and Ambassador Steve Fagin thanked President Barzani for his role as a longstanding and close supporter of Iraq’s political process.
Today, Wednesday, 21 October 2026, in Pirmam, President Masoud Barzani received Ambassador Steve Fagin, the chargé d’affaires of the U.S. Embassy in Iraq.
The meeting, which was attended by Gwendoline Wendy Green, the U.S. consul general in Erbil, focused on discussing and reviewing the situation in Iraq. Ambassador Steve Fagin expressed his appreciation for President Barzani’s longstanding and close support for Iraq’s political process. President Barzani, in turn, noted that they had based their relations with Iraq on the constitution and the principles of participation, balance and consensus. President Barzani also pointed out that, had previous Iraqi governments adhered to these principles, far greater achievements would have been made for Iraq and all communities as a whole.
President Barzani also announced that they support the current prime minister of Iraq within the framework of the constitution and the protection of the legitimate rights of the people of Kurdistan enshrined in the constitution. In addition, President Barzani stressed support for Kurdistan’s minorities, particularly Christian sisters and brothers, on the basis of respect, legal rights and participation, stating that minorities must decide their own fate themselves. President Barzani highlighted the importance of amending the electoral law so that Christian sisters and brothers can have their own voice and no one can make decisions on their behalf.
During the remainder of the meeting, the situation in the region was discussed, and President Barzani stressed that our policy had been clear and transparent from the outset: we have neither been part of the tensions nor will we be part of disputes and conflicts. Nevertheless, we prefer all sides to resolve their problems through dialogue, diplomacy and peaceful means.
The U.S. delegation, for its part, expressed its commitment to the security and stability of Iraq and the Kurdistan Region, stating that the end of the coalition’s mission does not mean the end of the U.S. commitment to the Kurdistan Region and Iraq. In the past, coalition forces had also been present here at the request of the Iraqi government and, in cooperation with the Peshmerga and Iraqi forces, defeated ISIS. They stressed that the United States remains committed to maintaining stability and its partnership with the Kurdistan Region and Iraq in the security, economic, political and military spheres and within the framework of bilateral relations.
