Kurdistan President Barzani hails 'new beginning' after Tehran visit

Nechirvan Barzani, President of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, has described his two-day trip to Tehran as a “new beginning” in relations with Iran.

The visit is the first for a senior Kurdish official since the strike by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps on a house in Kurdistan's capital, Erbil, which the IRGC suspected was being used by as an office by Mossad, Israel's national intelligence agency. Five civilians, including two children, were killed in the missile attack, Iraqi Kurdish officials said.

“We believe that this visit is a new beginning to the Kurdistan Region’s relations with Iran," Mr Barzani said on Tuesday, according to Kurdish media outlet Rudaw.

The visit, which began on Monday, focused on assuaging Tehran's security concerns linked to the presence of Iranian Kurdish dissident groups in Iraq and fostering bilateral ties.

Mr Barzani led a high-level delegation, including Interior Minister Rebar Ahmed and several senior officials.

Iran has long accused Iraqi Kurds, who run a three-province region in country’s north, of harbouring Iranian Kurdish opposition groups as well as Mossad spy centres. The Kurds have denied any presence of Mossad and have tried to restrict movement of the Kurdish opposition groups.

The Kurdish President acknowledged there are issues both sides are attempting to resolve.

“We saw a strong will from this trip to resolve the issues that exist between us," he said.

He assured Tehran that Kurdistan “cannot and should not be a source of threat to neighbours”, describing Iran as an “important neighbour”.

“Armed groups should not exist in the Kurdistan Region and they should not come into Iran, carry out armed activities and return to the Kurdistan Region. This is unacceptable," he added.

Mr Barzani met Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian and many other high-ranking officials.

During the meeting with Mr Raisi, both “emphasised the significance of strengthening the ties between Iran, Iraq and the Kurdistan Region, based on the principles of good neighbourliness, shared interests”, said a statement from Mr Barzani’s office. They also discussed ways to boost trade and economic relations.

Mr Raisi stressed on the importance of “preventing the Zionists and anti-[Islamic] Revolution elements from using Kurdistan Region [to launch attacks] against Iraq”, the Islamic Republic News Agency reported.

The destroyed home of Iraqi Kurdish businessman Peshraw Dizayee, who was killed along with members of his family in an IRGC missile attack on his home in Erbil in January 2024. EPA

In March last year, Iraq and Iran signed a security agreement to secure the shared borders and disarm Iranian Kurdish opposition groups.

In September, Baghdad announced it had disarmed and moved the camps of armed Iranian Kurdish opposition groups away from the border with Iran and deeper into its own territory.

The Kurdish region has for decades hosted camps and rear bases run by Kurdish dissident groups from Turkey and Iran.

They include the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which is based in Turkey but also operates in Iraq. It has been designated a terrorist group by the US and the EU. The main Iranian groups are the Free Life Party of Kurdistan, known by its Kurdish acronym PJAK, and the Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan.

The presence of these groups in northern Iraq has been a source of tension between Baghdad and its neighbours.

Iran and Turkey have carried out repeated attacks on the Kurdish opposition groups, accusing them of destabilising their security, and have repeatedly called on Baghdad and the Kurdistan regional government to disarm and expel them.

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Europe’s rearming plan

Suspend strict budget rules to allow member countries to step up defence spending
Create new "instrument" providing €150 billion of loans to member countries for defence investment
Use the existing EU budget to direct more funds towards defence-related investment
Engage the bloc's European Investment Bank to drop limits on lending to defence firms
Create a savings and investments union to help companies access capital

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Bharatanatyam

A ancient classical dance from the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Intricate footwork and expressions are used to denote spiritual stories and ideas.

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Saturday
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Monday
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• Round up: Experts share their visions of the world to come

The specs

Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo

Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm

Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm

Transmission: 9-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km

On sale: Now

Price: From Dh117,059

MATCH INFO

Chelsea 3 (Abraham 11', 17', 74')

Luton Town 1 (Clark 30')

Man of the match Abraham (Chelsea)

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While you're here

The National editorial: Turkey's soft power weighs heavy on Europe's Muslims

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the pledge

I pledge to uphold the duty of tolerance

I pledge to take a first stand against hate and injustice

I pledge to respect and accept people whose abilities, beliefs and culture are different from my own

I pledge to wish for others what I wish for myself

I pledge to live in harmony with my community

I pledge to always be open to dialogue and forgiveness

I pledge to do my part to create peace for all

I pledge to exercise benevolence and choose kindness in all my dealings with my community

I pledge to always stand up for these values: Zayed's values for tolerance and human fraternity

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National Editorial: Suleimani has been killed, now we must de-escalate

Mina Al Oraibi: Air strike casts a long shadow over the decade ahead

Jack Moore: Why the assassination is such a monumental gamble

Matthew Levitt: Iran retains its ability to launch terror attacks

Hussein Ibish: Trump's order on solid constitutional ground

Simon Waldman: Cautious Israel keeping a low profile

On Women's Day

Dr Nawal Al-Hosany: Why more women should be on the frontlines of climate action

Shelina Janmohamed: Why shouldn't a spouse be compensated fairly for housework?

Justin Thomas: Challenge the notion that 'men are from Mars, women are from Venus'

The National Editorial: Is there much to celebrate on International Women's Day 2021?

Key facilities

Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
Premier League-standard football pitch
400m Olympic running track
NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
600-seat auditorium
Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
Specialist robotics and science laboratories
AR and VR-enabled learning centres
Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets

RACE CARD

4pm Al Bastakiya – Listed (TB) $150,000 (Dirt) 1,900m

4.35pm Dubai City Of Gold – Group 2 (TB) $228,000 (Turf) 2,410m

5.10pm Mahab Al Shimaal – Group 3 (TB) $228,000 (D) 1,200m

5.45pm Burj Nahaar – Group 3 (TB) $228,000 (D) 1,600m

6.20pm Jebel Hatta – Group 1 (TB) $260,000 (T) 1,800m

6.55pm Al Maktoum Challenge Round-1 – Group 1 (TB) $390,000 (D) 2,000m

7.30pm Nad Al Sheba – Group 3 (TB) $228,000 (T) 1,200m

4. Shahada

5. Zakat

Hotel Silence
Auður Ava Ólafsdóttir
Pushkin Press

Company%20Profile

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National Editorial: Suleimani has been killed, now we must de-escalate

Mina Al Oraibi: Air strike casts a long shadow over the decade ahead

Matthew Levitt: Iran retains its ability to launch terror attacks

Damien McElroy: A CEO tasked with spreading Iran's influence

Hussein Ibish: Trump's order on solid constitutional ground

Simon Waldman: Cautious Israel keeping a low profile

On Women's Day

Dr Nawal Al-Hosany: Why more women should be on the frontlines of climate action

Shelina Janmohamed: Why shouldn't a spouse be compensated fairly for housework?

Samar Elmnhrawy: How companies in the Middle East can catch up on gender equality

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RESULTS

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