Kurdistan Governors, Iranian President Discuss Regional Development & Shared Challenges

Sulaymaniyah Governorate

The Kurdistan Region's governors met with Iranian President Pezeshkian.

The governors of the Kurdistan Region’s provinces held a high-level meeting with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian in Tehran on Thursday, 22 May 2025, to discuss enhanced cross-border cooperation and regional development.

The delegation from the Kurdistan Region included Erbil Governor Omed Khoshnaw, Sulaymaniyah Governor Haval Abubakir, Duhok Governor Ali Tatar, and Acting Halabja Governor Nukhsha Nasih.

President Pezeshkian reiterated Iran’s commitment to bolstering relations with the Kurdistan Region and instructed his cabinet to review a memorandum submitted by the Halabja governorate.

Sulaymaniyah Governor Haval Abubakir noted that the governors presented a series of shared concerns to the President, particularly addressing water scarcity and drought. He stressed the need for collaborative efforts to tackle these environmental challenges.

Governor Abubakir also commended President Pezeshkian for his efforts in promoting balanced development, investment, and public services across cities in East Kurdistan, and for fostering stronger ties with neighbouring provinces in the Kurdistan Region.

Acting Halabja Governor Nukhsha Nasih, speaking to Channel 8, said: “We had a two-hour meeting with President Pezeshkian at the presidential palace in Tehran.” She added that the delegation submitted a memorandum seeking assistance in three key areas: locating children missing since the chemical attack on Halabja, providing medical treatment for survivors of chemical weapons, and opening the Sazan border crossing.

“The President showed genuine understanding of our requests and assigned a dedicated governmental team to follow up and ensure implementation,” Nasih stated.

In an official statement, Erbil Governor Omed Khoshnaw, who led the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) delegation, said President Pezeshkian expressed satisfaction with the current state of Iran-KRG relations and reaffirmed his government’s support for 12 previously signed memoranda covering trade, tourism, scientific cooperation, and cultural exchange.

The visit coincided with the governors’ participation in the third joint conference of the border provinces of the Kurdistan Region and East Kurdistan, held in Sanandaj (Sina) on Tuesday. The event seeks to deepen cross-border collaboration and improve coordination between the Kurdistan Region and neighbouring Iranian provinces, including Urmia, Kermanshah, and Kurdistan Province.



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