President Barzani Receives U.S. Embassy Delegation

President Masoud Barzani received a delegation from the United States Embassy in Iraq on Tuesday, January 13, 2026, in Pirmam. The delegation was headed by Mr. Joshua Harris, Chargé d’Affaires of the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad, and the meeting was also attended by Ms. Gwendolyn Green, U.S. Consul General in Erbil.

Mr. Harris congratulated President Barzani and the people of Kurdistan on the New Year and briefed him on Iraq’s political process following the parliamentary elections, including relations among Iraqi political parties and ongoing efforts to form a unified federal government. He also discussed regional developments—particularly tensions in Syria—and commended President Barzani’s continued efforts to support Iraq’s political process and to help ease instability in Syria.

President Barzani welcomed the delegation and reciprocated the New Year greetings. On Iraq’s political situation, he reaffirmed his commitment to promoting coordination and cooperation among political parties to achieve satisfactory outcomes and form a strong federal government. He emphasized the importance of continuing efforts to overcome political obstacles and disputes, as well as addressing outstanding issues between the Kurdistan Regional Government and the federal government.

Regarding Syria and broader regional challenges, President Barzani reiterated that problems should be resolved through peaceful means, dialogue, and mutual understanding, away from violence.

The meeting also highlighted Kurdistan Region–U.S. relations and ongoing efforts to maintain and strengthen bilateral ties.