Barzani, Barrack call for reactivating Kurdistan Parliament and forming new cabinet

ERBIL — Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani and U.S. Special Presidential Envoy Tom Barrack called for reactivating the Kurdistan Parliament, forming a new Kurdistan Regional Government cabinet and ending the region’s political stalemate during talks in Erbil, the KRG said.

Barzani received a U.S. delegation led by Barrack, who serves as presidential envoy to Iraq and Syria and ambassador to Turkey. The meeting was attended by Joshua Harris, chargé d’affaires at the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad, and Maj. Gen. Kevin J. Lambert, commander of Combined Joint Task Force-Operation Inherent Resolve. Both sides agreed on the importance of ending the impasse and moving forward with the formation of the region’s institutions.

The call comes after months of deadlock following the Kurdistan Region’s parliamentary elections in October 2024. Although lawmakers were sworn in at the parliament’s first session in December, parties have yet to agree on parliamentary leadership, preventing the legislature from fully resuming work and delaying the formation of a new government. The impasse has left the region without a new cabinet more than a year after the vote, as negotiations between the Kurdistan Democratic Party and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan over power-sharing and senior posts have repeatedly failed, leaving the previous cabinet in a caretaker role.

Barzani expressed appreciation for continued U.S. cooperation and stressed strengthening bilateral relations. Barrack praised the region’s development and said President Donald Trump “has a special respect for the Kurdish people, the Kurdistan Region and the leadership of President Masoud Barzani.” Both sides agreed on the importance of expanding trade between the United States, Iraq and the Kurdistan Region and encouraging greater participation by U.S. companies, particularly in energy. They also stressed support for Iraq’s federal government under Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi and resolving outstanding Baghdad-Erbil issues in line with the constitution.

The meeting took place as Iraq and the United States prepare for al-Zaidi’s expected visit to Washington in mid-July. Iraqi officials have said economic, trade and investment issues will lead the agenda, following recent talks in Baghdad between Zaidi and Barrack that produced a package of security, strategic and economic understandings, including plans to expand U.S. investment and energy cooperation and support for Iraq’s effort to place weapons under state control.