Shaswar Abdul Wahid's response to Masrour Barzani:

We do not want a parliament that is formed only to elect you

Iraq and Kurdistan Region Service- Shaswar Abdul Wahid, head of the New Generation Movement, in response to Masrour Barzani's statements about activating the parliament, emphasized that his coalition wants a parliament with real powers and an effective oversight role, not an institution that meets only to elect the prime minister.

Does the Kurdistan Region Need a New Social Contract?

World Service - Amarji Magazine emphasizes that overcoming chronic political crises is only possible by accepting democratic rules, strengthening parliament, and removing security resources and institutions from party control.

Masrour Barzani calls for an end to attacks on the Kurdistan Region

Iraq and Kurdistan Region Service - The Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq condemned the continuous and unjustified attacks on the region and called for an end to these attacks.

Patriotic Union of Kurdistan:

Democratic Party media have removed Sulaymaniyah from the national security circle

Iraq and Kurdistan Region Service- Latif Nirowayi, head of the media board of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, strongly criticized the performance of the media of the Kurdistan Democratic Party in covering the recent attacks, saying that by publishing sensitive information about Sulaymaniyah, these media have acted contrary to the region's media laws and behaved like "enemy media."

Kurdistan Democratic Party:

We are ready to resume the activities of the parliament immediately

Iraq and Kurdistan Region Service - A member of the Kurdistan Democratic Party's political bureau, stating that after 20 months since the regional parliamentary elections and the signing of a political agreement between the parties, there is no longer any excuse to postpone the start of the parliament's work, emphasized his party's readiness to resume the activities of the parliament immediately.

Masrour Barzani's Office:

358 kilograms of gold handed over to Iraqi anti-corruption committee

Iraq and the Kurdistan Region service - The Office of the Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Region announced that, in continuation of the cooperation and coordination between the regional government and the federal government of Iraq in the fight against corruption, 358 kilograms of gold seized by the relevant institutions of the region have been handed over to the Iraqi anti-corruption committee.

The Way to Save the Kurdistan Region from the Crisis

World Service - The current crisis in the Kurdistan Region is the result of three decades of party competition, weak institutions, and the failure of the political unity project; the future of the region depends on the ability of the two main parties to create a system based on the rule of law and independent institutions.

Ribaz Hamlan Defends Masrour Barzani’s Track Record

Iraq and Kurdistan Region Desk – Ribaz Hamlan, an aide to the Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Region, defended Masrour Barzani’s seven-year performance, describing him as a "child of the Barzani path." At the same time, he lashed out at critics, labeling them "rootless, unethical, and dim-witted political puppets," and emphasized that the government's record stands up to scrutiny based on the statistics of its infrastructure and service projects.

Two Small Governments Within One Region

World Desk – Dunya Bashul, a researcher and analyst specializing in Kurdistan affairs, cites the case of Khurshid Herki to illustrate how the political structure of the Kurdistan Region is characterized by the dominance of partisan and tribal dynamics over official institutions. In her view, after 35 years of self-serving governance, the Region continues to suffer from an absence of the rule of law, a duality of power, and weak state institutions—a situation that has hindered development, investment, and political stability.

An Alliance with Tehran and the Qushtapa Tragedy: A Historical Account of the Kurdistan Democratic Party’s Military Activities

Iraq and Kurdistan Region Desk – The documentary book *Atlas of the Ramadan Headquarters During the Sacred Defense Era* sheds light on lesser-known historical details regarding the structure, foreign collaborations, and military strategies of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) between 1946 and the end of the Iran-Iraq War in 1988. The documents within this atlas reveal how regional political developments altered the party's trajectory and its military calculations.

Is the Kurdistan Region the Most Security-Centric Governance Structure in the Region?

World Desk – New statistics from the Kurdistan Region’s Ministry of Finance, republished by the "Kurdistan Watch" institute, present a rare picture of the region's security apparatus, revealing that over 4.4 percent of the population serves in the Peshmerga forces, the police, and the Asayish. This ratio not only far exceeds those of neighboring countries and the European average but also demonstrates that the region's economy, politics, and governance system remain heavily influenced by security considerations and partisan rivalries.

The Kurds; The Connecting Link in the New U.S. Strategy for Iraq, Syria, and Turkey

Analyses indicate that Washington is shaping a new order in West Asia anchored in energy, trade, and regional connectivity corridors. Within this framework, the Kurds act not as a single, monolithic player, but rather as connecting links between Iraq, Syria, and Turkey.

Islamic Union:

Kurdistan Region Party Leaders to Meet Soon

Iraq and Kurdistan Region Desk – The spokesperson for the Kurdistan Islamic Union announced that the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) have responded positively to an initiative by Salahaddin Bahaaddin to hold a meeting of party leaders. The meeting, involving parties that hold parliamentary blocs, is set to take place in the coming days to discuss ways to resolve the political deadlock.

Why Do the US and Turkey Support Power-Sharing in the Kurdistan Region?

World Service – An analysis by the *National Context* website suggests that, contrary to popular belief, the US, Turkey, and even Baghdad are not particularly displeased with the persistence of dual power centers in the Kurdistan Region. From the perspective of these actors, the rivalry between the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) prevents either party from becoming the sole player in areas such as relations with Turkey, transit routes, and security and energy portfolios; this very balance preserves their bargaining power.

Bakhtiar Sadjadi, University Professor and Socio-cultural Commentator :

Another Golden Chapter in Kurdish Diplomacy; Italy Glorifies President Nechirvan Barzani with Its Highest Honour

There are ceremonies that mark an occasion, and there are ceremonies that mark a historic moment; what happened in Erbil on 8 July was unmistakably the latter. Italy conferred its highest state distinction, the Grand Cross Knight of the Order of the Star of Italy, on Nechirvan Barzani, President of the Kurdistan Region, an honour presented by Ambassador Niccolò Fontana on behalf of the President of Italy, Sergio Mattarella. It capped, in a single gesture, more than two decades of quietly accumulating ties between Erbil and Rome. The awarding of this highly precious medal landed at a moment when Kurdistan's political institutions could use precisely this kind of reassurance from international scenes.

Hoshyar Zebari:

All Kurdistan Region parties have concluded that Baghdad is our strategic depth

Iraq and Kurdistan Region Desk – Hoshyar Zebari, a member of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) Politburo, announced that he has been tasked by his party with overseeing all its political and governmental affairs in Baghdad. He emphasized that all parties in the Kurdistan Region have reached the conclusion that Baghdad constitutes the Region's "strategic depth."

Herki Tribe Blocks Mosul–Erbil Road Following Expiration of Ultimatum

Iraq and Kurdistan Region Desk – Following the expiration of the deadline set by the family of Khorshid Herki for his and his brother's release, local sources report that members of the Herki tribe have blocked the main Mosul–Erbil road. Simultaneously, reports indicate a massive deployment of military and security forces affiliated with the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) to the Khabat and Gerde-Rash areas—developments that have heightened concerns regarding a potential escalation of the security crisis.

Ali Zaidi:

We Are Deeply Grateful to the KDP and the PUK

Iraq and Kurdistan Region Service – Ali Zaidi expressed appreciation for the support shown by Iraqi political parties and institutions—including the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK)—for the government's anti-corruption agenda. He emphasized that combating corruption is a national responsibility and affirmed that, despite pressures and challenges, the government will resolutely continue the reform process, the prosecution of corrupt individuals, and the recovery of state assets.

Erbil Police Announce Arrest of Khurshid Herki and His Brother

Iraq and Kurdistan Region Service – The Erbil Police Command announced the arrest of Khurshid Herki and his brother, who face charges including the murder of a Peshmerga member and a civilian, inciting disorder, and various other offenses.

Al-Sharq al-Awsat: The deadlock in the formation of the regional government has strengthened the possibility of the return of two administrations

Service of Iraq and the Kurdistan Region - "Al-Sharq Al-Awsat" newspaper, in a report referring to the continuation of the deadlock in the formation of the new government of the Kurdistan Region, warned that the continuation of the differences between the Kurdistan Democratic Party and the Patriotic Union has increased the risk of returning to the "two administration" system.

The Kurdistan Region’s Deepest Political Rift

World Desk – A senior official from the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) has warned that the ongoing deadlock in forming a new government could once again push the Kurdistan Region toward the separate administration of areas controlled by the two main parties—a situation described as unprecedented since the unification of governing structures in 2006.

Nechirvan Barzani to Attend Ayatollah Khamenei's Funeral Ceremony

Iraq and Kurdistan Region Service – Nechirvan Barzani, President of the Kurdistan Region, is traveling to Tehran at the head of a high-level delegation of regional officials to attend the funeral ceremony of Ayatollah Khamenei; on the sidelines of the event, he will meet and hold discussions with a number of senior officials of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Awat Talabani:

If My Brothers Are Guilty, Execute Them

Iraq and Kurdistan Region Service – Awat Sheikh Jangi Talabani, sister of Lahur Talabani, has sharply criticized the continued detention of Peshmerga forces loyal to her brother. She demanded an immediate resolution to the case, insisting that if they are guilty, they should be executed; however, if they are not, the "oppression" against their families must end and all detainees must be released.

Hoshiar Zibari:

The Kurdistan Region will never become a haven for the corrupt

Service of Iraq and Kurdistan Region - Hoshiar Zibari, a member of the political office of the Kurdistan Democratic Party, in response to the recent developments in Iraq and the intensification of anti-corruption cases, said that the Kurdistan Region has always been the fortress of freedom and democracy in Iraq, but it will never become a refuge for criminals, corrupt people and those who steal public property.

The faction of the Kurdistan Democratic Party supported the actions of the Iraqi government to deal with corruption

Service of Iraq and the Kurdistan Region - The faction of the Kurdistan Democratic Party in the Iraqi Parliament, while declaring full support for the legal measures of the Iraqi government and the judicial system to deal with corruption and arrest the accused, emphasized that the process of administrative reforms should not be limited to Baghdad only and should include all Iraqi provinces.

The reaction of the new generation to the proposal of the Democratic Party

Iraq Service and Kurdistan Region - The spokesperson of the New Generation movement criticized the new proposal of the Kurdistan Democratic Party to reopen the parliament before the formation of the 10th cabinet, and emphasized that the solution to the political deadlock is possible only through the simultaneous activation of the parliament and the formation of the government.

Kurdistan Democratic Party: Talks should be transferred from the media to the parliament

Iraq and Kurdistan Region Service - The political office of the Kurdistan Democratic Party, emphasizing the necessity of reactivating the regional parliament, asked all political currents in the sixth term to transfer the differences and discussions related to the formation of the 10th cabinet to the parliament and warned that the continuation of the current situation will be detrimental to the Kurdistan region and the political process.

Aras Talabani demanded that the parties of Sulaimaniye accompany the proposal of the Democratic Party

Iraq and Kurdistan Region Service- Aras Talabani, the nephew of Jalal Talabani, supported the recent request of the Kurdistan Democratic Party to activate the parliament, and asked the political parties of Sulaymaniyah to respond positively to this proposal and transfer political disputes and competitions to the parliament. An action that, according to him, can help preserve the climate and prevent the continuation of political deadlock.

Ashwaq Jaf:

The dissolution of the Kurdistan region means the end of the Iraqi political system

Service of Iraq and the Kurdistan Region - The representative of the Democratic Party in the Iraqi Parliament called the attempt to reduce the legal powers of the Kurdistan Region a "real coup" against the new political structure of Iraq and said that the legitimacy of the region and the political system of Iraq originate from a common legal basis.

Agreement or the beginning of a new stage of confrontation in the Kurdistan Region / Brigadier Johar

Service of Iraq and the Kurdistan Region - At the same time as the deadlock continues in the negotiations between the Democratic Party of Kurdistan and the Patriotic Union to form a new cabinet, new scenarios have been proposed, including the vote of confidence of the new generation without participation in the government, the attempt to separate a part of the Sulaymaniyah and Halabja budgets, the dispute over the share of the presidencies and the proposal to temporarily activate the parliament. Developments that can bring the political equations of the climate to a new stage if the differences continue until the end of next month.