In an unprecedented diplomatic exchange, governors from all four provinces of Iraqi Kurdistan arrived in Sanandaj, Eastern Kurdistan, for official talks with their Iranian counterparts. The delegation aims to strengthen cross-border economic, trade, and cultural ties with neighboring Iranian Kurdish provinces during this historic meeting, marking a new chapter in regional cooperation.
Strengthening Cross-Border Relations Through High-Level Dialogue
The Kurdistan Region delegation arrived in Sanandaj led by Omed Khoshnaw, Governor of Erbil, accompanied by Haval Abubakir, Governor of Sulaymaniyah, Nuxsha Naseh, Governor of Halabja, Ali Teter, Governor of Duhok, and Shakir Hussein, Director of Iranian Affairs at Kurdistan Region’s Foreign Relations Department.
Upon arrival at Sanandaj airport, the delegation was warmly welcomed by Arash Lahoni, Governor of Sanandaj, along with several officials from Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. According to Haval Abubakir, the delegation plans to hold several meetings focused specifically on economic, commercial, and cultural relations between the regions.
The visit came at the official invitation of Arash Lahoni and represents the regular meeting cycle between border provinces of the Kurdistan Region and Eastern Kurdistan provinces in the Islamic Republic of Iran, including Sanandaj, Kermanshah, and Urmia.
Iranian Welcome and Strategic Objectives
Following the welcome ceremony, Governor Lahoni told media outlets that the meeting’s objective is “to open a new chapter in border exchanges and advance economic and cultural relations between the parties.”
“This meeting, being held for the first time in Sanandaj, is a strategic effort to establish an appropriate model for strengthening relations between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Kurdistan Region of Iraq,” Lahoni stated.
The Sanandaj Governor emphasized the longstanding deep connections between the people of Sanandaj Province, the Islamic Republic of Iran, and the Kurdistan Region. “Our people in provinces bordering the Kurdistan Region have lived together for a long time, have family ties, ancient connections, and even traditional commerce has been common in these areas,” he noted.
Lahoni also revealed that following the Sanandaj meetings, the Kurdistan Region delegation would continue their diplomatic mission with a visit to Tehran.
Mutual Benefits and Future Prospects
Erbil Governor Omed Khoshnaw expressed his enthusiasm about the visit, stating: “We are very pleased to come as a delegation from the Kurdistan Regional Government, comprising governors of this region, accompanied by chambers of commerce from Sulaymaniyah, Halabja, Duhok, and Erbil, along with several border crossing directors, to Iranian Kurdistan.”
Khoshnaw emphasized the importance of the meeting for strengthening relations between the Kurdistan Region and Iran. “This meeting will certainly benefit both sides as we can learn from each other’s experiences. We want to expand our relations with Iran and utilize these relations for the mutual benefit of both parties,” he affirmed.
The governors from Eastern Kurdistan provinces—Arash Lahoni of Sanandaj, Rahman Rezaei of Urmia, and Manouchehr Habibi of Kermanshah—are also participating in these high-level discussions, signaling the importance both sides place on developing stronger regional cooperation across shared borders.
