Pezeshkian calls for closer ties with Kurdistan Region

Rastinews — Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian met with Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) leader Bafel Jalal Talabani in Tehran on Wednesday. The talks covered relations between Iran and the Kurdistan Region in detail.

Pezeshkian said the historical, cultural and social ties between Iran and the Kurdistan Region go back a long way. "These ties hold special significance for the Islamic Republic of Iran and must be developed," he said.

"We are ready to resolve issues through mutual understanding and dialogue"

The Iranian president said coordination and closeness among countries in the region need to increase. "We believe the peoples of the region share deep, longstanding ties, and that these common bonds must serve as the basis for opening the way to cooperation, stability and development," he said.

Pezeshkian stressed dialogue as the way to resolve disputes. "If any side has legitimate demands, we are ready to address the issues and find solutions within a framework of mutual understanding and respect. At the same time, we expect all sides to uphold the principles of good neighborliness and to steer clear of extremism and wrongful acts," he said.

Accuses US of "interference"

Pezeshkian described the US presence in the region as "interference" in the internal affairs of regional states, adding:

"They are seeking to weaken these countries' capacities and exploit their resources and wealth by sowing discord and conflict among the peoples of the region. That is why we must reduce the grounds for instability and conflict by increasing coordination and dialogue."