President Barzani Receives the UK Ambassador to Iraq

President Masoud Barzani received Ambassador Irfan Siddiq, the United Kingdom Ambassador to Iraq, on Monday, February 2, 2026, in Pirmam.

The meeting—also attended by Mr. Andrew Bizley, the UK Consul General in Erbil—covered the latest political developments in Iraq, efforts to form the new government, and the process of selecting the President of the Republic of Iraq.

President Barzani stated that the Presidency of the Republic is the Kurds’ share, stressing the need to establish an appropriate mechanism for electing and nominating the presidential candidate and to adopt it as a fixed rule, so that Iraq’s political process does not stall after each election. Regarding the position of Prime Minister, President Barzani noted that it is the share of the Shiite political forces, and that they must resolve this matter among themselves.

The parties also discussed the situation in Syria, the recent agreement between the Syrian government and the Syrian Democratic Forces, the peace process in Turkey, and broader regional complexities.