Pezeshkian meets Barzani at COP31, calls for stronger Iran–Kurdistan trade ties

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian met Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani on Thursday on the sidelines of the 2026 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP31) in Türkiye, according to Mehr News. The two officials discussed bilateral relations and regional developments.

Pezeshkian said Iran and the Kurdistan Region should make greater use of their existing capacities and opportunities to strengthen relations across all sectors, and stressed that Iran was fully prepared to advance cooperation, particularly in trade and economic activities. Highlighting the friendly ties between the two populations, he said efforts to isolate Iran economically would not succeed given the country's close relations with neighboring communities, including the people of the Kurdistan Region. He added that sanctions and external pressure had not weakened the Iranian nation's determination, saying the country had strengthened its resilience and would overcome challenges by relying on domestic capabilities and public support.

The Iranian president also criticized the United States and Israel over military action against Iran, describing the attacks and the killing of the country's Leader and schoolchildren as unlawful and unjustifiable under international law and humanitarian principles. He said the adversaries were seeking to exert economic pressure on Iranians after failing to achieve their objectives militarily, including by restricting routes used to supply essential goods, food and medicine. Pezeshkian further expressed concern over the humanitarian situation in Gaza, particularly the hardships facing displaced Palestinians amid heavy rainfall, flooding and inadequate living conditions.

Barzani emphasized the need for lasting peace and stability in the region, saying that war against Iran would only have made the regional situation more complicated without achieving its architects' objectives. He reaffirmed that the Kurdistan Region would not allow its territory to be used for any action threatening Iran's security or sovereignty. He described Iran as a longstanding supporter of the Kurdistan Region and said its assistance during difficult periods would not be forgotten, praising the resilience of the Iranian people and armed forces as well as Pezeshkian's management of the country during wartime.

The Kurdistan Region president expressed readiness to expand economic and trade relations with Iran, stressing the importance of using existing capacities to increase exchanges and strengthen cooperation. According to Mehr News, the meeting took place on the margins of COP31 in Türkiye.