Qubad Talabani: Talks with US Envoy Were Productive, PUK Position Clarified

Qubad Talabani’s media office

Qubad Talabani and Irfan Siddiq meet in Erbil.

Qubad Talabani, Deputy Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Region, received Irfan Siddiq, the British Ambassador to Iraq, on Tuesday, 16 June 2026, for talks on a range of issues of mutual interest.

The meeting, which was also attended by Andrew Bizley, the British Consul General in the Kurdistan Region, opened with Talabani praising the Ambassador’s recent visit to Lalish and Alqosh, where he observed firsthand the living conditions of Yazidi and Christian communities.

The two sides also discussed the newly formed Iraqi government, agreeing on the importance of supporting its efforts. They stressed the need to intensify work towards resolving outstanding issues between the Kurdistan Region and the federal government, while highlighting the importance of coordination and cooperation between Erbil and Baghdad to strengthen Iraq’s economy and improve the wellbeing of its citizens.

Regional developments were another key focus of the meeting. Both sides underlined the significance of the recent agreement between the United States and Iran, describing it as an important opportunity to address longstanding disputes between the two countries and contribute to greater security and stability across the region.

The discussions also covered the political situation within the Kurdistan Region, with both sides emphasising the need to resume negotiations and overcome obstacles delaying the formation of a new regional government.

In this regard, Talabani referred to his meeting the previous day with Tom Barrack, the US President’s Special Envoy for Iraq and Syria, describing the talks as productive. He noted that the President of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) had outlined the party’s position and approach regarding the formation of the next Kurdistan Regional Government during the meeting with the US envoy.


PUKMEDIA