Kurdistan Region Congratulates Iran's Reformist President-Elect Masoud Pezeshkian
Erbil, Kurdistan Region – On Saturday, the leadership of the Kurdistan Region extended their congratulations to Iran’s newly elected reformist president, Masoud Pezeshkian, signaling their intent to strengthen ties between Erbil and Tehran.
“I congratulate Mr. Masoud Pezeshkian on his election as President of the Islamic Republic of Iran,” stated Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani in a post on X (formerly Twitter). “We look forward to developing the long-standing friendly relations and continuing joint cooperation” with Tehran.
به‌بۆنه‌ی هه‌ڵبژاردنییه‌وه به سه‌رۆکی کۆماری ئیسلامیی ئێران، به ناوی خۆم و گه‌لی کوردستانه‌وه، پیرۆزبایی له به‌ڕێز مه‌سعوود پزیشکیان ده‌که‌م، هیوای سه‌رکه‌وتنی بۆ ده‌خوازم.
— Nechirvan Barzani (@IKRPresident) July 6, 2024
له هه‌رێمی کوردستان و عێراق چاومان له بره‌ودان به په‌یوه‌ندیی له‌مێژینه‌ی دۆستانه و به‌رده‌وامیی…
Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the importance of the relationship between the Kurdistan Region and Iran. “Iran is an important neighbor to the Kurdistan Region and Iraq. We look forward to deepening cooperation based on good-neighborly relations and mutual respect,” he said.
Pezeshkian emerged victorious in Iran’s presidential run-off election held on Saturday, securing over 53 percent of the vote against his ultraconservative rival Saeed Jalili. The run-off was necessitated by the death of former president Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash in May.
I congratulate Masoud Pezeshkian on his election as the new President of the Islamic Republic of Iran.
— Masrour Barzani (@masrourbarzani) July 6, 2024
Iran is an important neighbor to the Kurdistan Region and Iraq.
We look forward to deepening cooperation based on good-neighborly relations and mutual respect -mb.
In the first round of voting last week, Pezeshkian garnered 10.41 million votes, while Jalili received 9.47 million out of a total of 24.5 million votes cast. The third candidate, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, the speaker of the Iranian parliament, obtained 3.38 million votes in the initial round and subsequently urged his supporters to back Jalili in the run-off. Despite this, Pezeshkian triumphed with the backing of several prominent reformist figures, including former foreign minister Javad Zarif.
Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei had called for a higher turnout in the run-off election, underscoring the significance of the vote.
With Pezeshkian’s election, there is renewed optimism for advancing cooperation and fostering stronger relations between Iran and the Kurdistan Region.
