Masrour Barzani in Baghdad for talks with central government leaders

BAGHDAD, September 14 — The latest round of negotiations between Iraq’s federal government and the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) began in Baghdad on  Thursday as Prime Minister Mohammed Shiaa’ Al-Sudani received his KRG counterpart Prime Minister Masrour Barzani to discuss a range of issues aimed at resolving lingering disputes between Baghdad and Erbil.

Barzani arrived in the capital early Thursday for the discussions, which are centered around budget payments to the Kurdistan region. After meeting with Al-Sudani, he is expected to visit the Dar Al-Salam Presidential Palace to meet with President Abdul Latif Rashid and subsequently with Parliament Speaker Mohammed Al-Halbousi.

In a post shared on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, Barzani expressed his purpose for being in Baghdad:

I have returned to Baghdad for continued dialogue with Prime Minister @mohamedshia and leaders from across the political spectrum.

Our aim is simple: defend the constitutional rights of the people in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq.

A statement from Al-Sudani’s office read: “Prime Minister Mohammed Shiaa’ Al-Sudani received the Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, Mr. Masrour Barzani, along with Deputy Prime Minister of the Region, Mr. Qubad Talabani, and their accompanying delegation.”