Barzani, Sudani discuss oil exports, salaries, and Kurdistan’s budget share

ERBIL — Kurdistan Regional Government Prime Minister Masrour Barzani said he held a phone call with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani to discuss resuming oil exports, resolving salary disputes, and securing the region’s share of the 2026 federal budget.

According to a statement, Barzani described the resumption of Kurdistan’s oil exports as “an important achievement in the service of all Iraqis.” He added that Sudani expressed gratitude for reaching the agreement, while the Kurdistan Regional Government welcomed the prime minister’s role in removing obstacles to the deal.

Oil exports from the Kurdistan Region resumed Saturday via the Iraq–Turkey pipeline, ending an 30-month suspension that deprived both Baghdad and Erbil of billions of dollars in revenue and strained relations between the two governments.

On the issue of public sector salaries, Barzani said he pressed for a “fundamental solution” to ensure that the people of Kurdistan do not face further hardship. He stressed that this year’s salaries must also be secured.

Despite September nearing its end, KRG employees have yet to receive their July and August salaries.

According to Barzani, both sides agreed that the Kurdistan Region must have its share of the federal budget in 2026.

The KRG Ministry of Finance and Economy announced Thursday it has transferred 120 billion dinars (around $84.7m) in non-oil revenues for July 2025 to the account of Iraq’s federal Finance Ministry at the Central Bank branch in Erbil. The

In May, Baghdad froze transfers to the region, accusing Erbil of exceeding its budget allocation and withholding revenue data. Payments resumed in mid-July after a deal in which the KRG agreed to deliver 230,000 barrels per day of crude oil and remit 120 billion dinars in non-oil revenue. Funds for May and June were then released.