President Barzani, Iranian official push to boost trade
On Tuesday, Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani met with Reza Rahmani, governor of Iran's West Azerbaijan province, to discuss expanding trade and facilitating cross-border travel.
Rahmani conveyed Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian's greetings and reaffirmed Tehran's interest in strengthening ties with the Region. Barzani stressed the importance of Kurdistan's historic relationship with Iran and called for broader cooperation.
The talks, also attended by the governor of Erbil, focused on practical measures to improve commerce and streamline movement through border crossings.
https://t.co/Pj8fgppN3Y pic.twitter.com/EW9o8HlJym
— Kurdistan Region Presidency (@KurdistanRegion) July 29, 2025
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Memri
19 minutes ago
- Memri
Newsweek On MEMRI's Balochistan Studies Project
On July 29, 2025, Newsweek published an article by senior writer and foreign policy & deputy editor Tom O'Connor describing the goals of the MEMRI Balochistan Studies Project, which is headed by Mir Yar Baloch, a well-known Baloch nationalist leader and a member of the secular Free Balochistan Movement (FBM).[1] Newsweek also quoted the FBM leader Hyrbyair Marri, who stated that the Iranian government is neglecting basic infrastructure and services to the people of Balochistan. The Goal Of The MEMRI Balochistan Studies Project It is worth noting that MEMRI is the only think tank that has a Balochistan Studies Project. The goal of the project is to give a voice the Baloch people and to expose the brutal suppression by Pakistan and Iran of 60 million Baloch people, who remain voiceless in their own land, lacking a single independent TV channel, radio station, or newspaper. Pakistan and Iran are deeply fearful of the academic research conducted by MEMRI on Balochistan because it threatens to unveil the harsh realities of state-sponsored repression, ethnic cleansing, and resource exploitation that the Pakistani regime has long concealed from the global stage. MEMRI as a research institute is giving a voice to the Baloch people and their own requests. Baloch leader Hyrbyair Marri, the head of the Free Balochistan Movement political platform and one of the most popular leaders among Baloch youth, is promoting independence for Balochistan. He stated: "It is crucial to clarify two key points: first, the Baloch are not a minority, but rather a nation with a unique cultural identity, language, and history. Secondly, the Baloch live in their ancestral homeland, where they have formed the majority for millennia. The comparison between the Baloch situation and that of Europe during Nazi Germany's occupation is illuminating. When Nazi forces occupied sovereign European states in the 20th century, did the French people resisting the occupation become "French minorities" within Germany? Were the Poles in occupied Poland suddenly considered a "Polish minority" in Nazi Germany? Of course not. "Now, imagine if France, with a slightly larger population, occupied and controlled Italy. Would we call the Italian people a 'minority' simply because the occupying French state outnumbered them within newly imposed boundaries designed to benefit France? The absurdity of this hypothetical underscores the flawed logic of referring to the Baloch as a minority in their own homeland. "An ethnic group residing in someone else's homeland could rightfully be called a minority. Similarly, a religious group practicing a different faith from the majority in a foreign country could be labelled as such. However, a historical nation like the Baloch cannot be considered a minority. The Baloch are not a minority in Iran, but rather a nation under Iranian occupation, actively struggling for the restoration of their independence." He then added: "The Baloch are not an ethnic or religious minority within Iran – they are a nation under occupation, actively resisting to reclaim their sovereignty." Free Balochistan Movement (FBM) leader Hyrbyair Marri Balochistan As 'Natural Ally Of The West' Balochistan, a nation that has been divided and is currently under Iranian and Pakistani occupation, (one part of it is under administrative of Afghanistan which was divided under Durand Line agreement) is the perfect outpost to counter and keep under control Iran, its nuclear ambitions, and its dangerous relations with Pakistan, which exported nuclear know-how to Tehran. What do we mean by "natural ally of the West"… Let's take the case of Iran. In the past, the U.S. administrations feared that helping the non-Persians groups would result in splitting Iran into several Islamic states. However, this will not be the case. There is a golden opportunity that the West can seize. Secular non-Persian groups are ready to join the West and lead the fight without the U.S. sending its troops. The U.S. has been working with the Kurds in Iraq and in Syria. It is thanks to the Kurds, that the U.S. managed to defeat ISIS. The Ahwazis, under the leadership of Dr. Aref Kaabi, are secular and would follow the tolerant path paved in the Gulf by the UAE, which embraces an Abrahamic alliance. The Free Balochistan Movement also drafted a charter, of which Article 4 states: "The Baloch national struggle is a secular movement. It is for the separation of religion from state and politics. It is for the power of reason and in opposition to any religious and ideological dogma." The movement also wrote a very detailed "Democratic Transitional Plan For Iran." The plan has been presented by the Free Balochistan Movement to other ethnic groups present in Iran, such as Kurds, Ahwazis, and Azeris. At the moment, this is the only plan that finds a broad consensus. The plan states: "The current Iranian theocratic regime is facing civil resistance from both Persians and non-Persians. Armed national insurgent groups, such as those in Kurdistan and Balochistan, seek to overthrow the regime and regain their independence. But imagine if the regime were to fall today – what would happen next? "Would the Balochs, Kurds, Arabs, and Turks engage in conflict with a post-Mullah Iran? Would a new regime use the military to suppress civilian movements for independence in Balochistan, Kurdistan, Al-Ahwaz, and Turkic Azerbaijan? Would Iran once again descend into a protracted conflict? Could Persians resort to ethnically cleansing non-Persian regions and resettling those areas with their own population? The best way to resolve this issue and avoid internal conflict in Iran is through a Democratic Transitional Plan for Iran." These ethnic groups are ready to coordinate and fight together to end the Islamist regime. They know that this is a matter of life and death – that they will all be liberated or will all continue to be subjugated by the Iranian regime. These ethnic groups do not need the American army to be on the ground, they can do their own fight toward liberation. In six months, they can create an army of hundreds of thousands of soldiers. Yet, they need U.S. political and economic support to mobilize the masses. It would be sufficient to have a meeting in Washington with the leaders of the above-mentioned ethnic groups to have the Islamic regime shiver in fear. There is nothing that the Islamic Republic of Iran fears as much as the non-Persian ethnic groups united. Washington needs partners in the region, and America's strategic allies are called: Kurds, Ahwazis, and Balochs. As soon as the West shows its interest, other ethnic groups will join the fight for freedom, prosperity, and liberty. To Empower The Baloch Cause Baloch leaders, such as Hyrbyair Marri, stand against religious radicalization in the region, against dictatorial regimes of the Islamic Republics of Pakistan and Iran, and against Chinese hegemonic ambitions. Hence, the international community should understand that Balochistan is a natural ally of the West. To empower the Baloch cause, it is high time to allow Baloch leaders to open representative offices in the United States, Europe, India, and Israel, and to invite them to speak at universities, think tanks, and international organization-sponsored events. Baloch people must be helped using suitable means, as their struggle for self-defense matches that of the West for democracy and freedom. It is worth noting that Chinese media also attacked our project. Baloch leader Hyrbyair Marri, the head of the Free Balochistan Movement, explained why China is afraid of an independent Balochistan: "I have often described China as a foe of the Baloch people. This is not just a sentiment – it is a harsh reality shaped by China's ongoing support for Pakistan, specifically in countering the Baloch struggle for national liberation. China's role in Balochistan is not just about economics; it is about geopolitics, resource exploitation, and the suppression of a nation's right to national liberation. "China's global strategy, fueled by its economic might, is to impose its hegemony on the free world. One of its most significant tools in this endeavor is the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), a project aimed at creating military bases in the name of trade routes and infrastructure that benefit China's long-term strategic interests. In Balochistan, this plan is implemented through the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). The agreement between Pakistan and China is a calculated plan to exploit Balochistan's rich resources while providing China with access to the strategically critical Baloch Sea. Through CPEC, China aims to build naval bases along Balochistan's coast, giving it a foothold in the Arabian Sea. Gwadar, a coastal city at the heart of this project, has been turned into a prison city. The local Baloch population is under constant surveillance and control, unable to move freely in their own homeland."
Rudaw Net
an hour ago
- Rudaw Net
President Barzani, UK military delegation discuss drone attacks on Kurdistan
Also in Kurdistan Bomb-laden drone crashes southwest of Erbil, no casualties reported 'Dangerous escalation': HRW condemns drone strikes on Kurdistan Region 24 Raparin migrants return to Kurdistan Region after month-long detention in Libya President Barzani urges Baghdad to facilitate Yazidi returns on genocide anniversary A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani in a meeting on Wednesday with a senior British military delegation, called for stronger measures to be taken to stop drone strikes targeting the Region's oil infrastructure and warned of Islamic State's (ISIS) continued threat to Iraq and Syria, according to the Kurdish presidency. In meeting with the delegation, which was led by UK Defence Senior Advisor to the Middle East and North Africa, Vice Admiral Edward Ahlgren, President Barzani 'described the targeting of energy infrastructure in the Kurdistan Region as a threat and damage to Iraq's entire economy and advocated that these attacks must be prevented,' read a statement from the presidency. According to Rudaw data, the Kurdistan Region has been targeted by around 20 drone and rocket attacks in recent weeks, many aimed at oil infrastructure. While no group has claimed responsibility, the Kurdistan Region's interior ministry earlier in July accused the Iran-aligned Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) of involvement - a charge Baghdad swiftly rejected as 'unacceptable.' The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) has also criticized the Iraqi federal government for failing to prevent or investigate the escalating drone threats. The attacks have significantly dropped since Erbil and Baghdad reached an agreement on finance and oil. Ahlgren showed his county's commitment to maintain relations and cooperation with Baghdad and Erbil and 'reiterated that his country views the peace and stability of the region with great importance and value,' the statement continued. He also expressed 'all British support for protecting the security of the Kurdistan Region, Iraq and the rest of the region.' The two sides also spoke about the threat of ISIS resurgence. 'President Nechirvan Barzani reiterated that ISIS is still a real threat and poses a danger to the peace and stability of Iraq and Syria,' it added. ISIS controlled swathes of Iraqi and Syrian territories in 2014. Despite its territorial defeat by 2019 in both countries with the support of the US-led anti-ISIS coalition, of which the UK is an active member, the group still tries to exploit security vacuums in Iraq and Syria, mainly carrying out hit-and-run attacks. Barzani's meeting with the British delegation also covered 'Iraq's federal system, the Kurdistan Region and Iraq's ties with neighboring countries, the situation in Syria and the rights of Kurds and other communities there, as well as recent developments in Turkey's peace process,' according to the presidency. Erbil and London enjoy long-standing relations. The UK has played a significant role in training Kurdish Peshmerga forces during the fight against ISIS and remains a key contributor to the global coalition. Around 1,400 British personnel are reportedly deployed in the Kurdistan Region and Iraq to provide military advisory and support to both the Peshmerga and Iraqi security forces. The UK's involvement with the Kurdistan Region dates back to 1991, when then-Prime Minister Sir John Major was instrumental in establishing a no-fly zone over northern Iraq. This provided a safe haven for Kurds fleeing the Ba'athist regime and enabled them to achieve autonomy. In recognition, a street in Erbil was named after Sir John Major in April 2021. The United Kingdom also maintains strong ties with Iraq across military, security, and other sectors. In 2021, the two countries signed a Strategic Partnership aimed at boosting cooperation in areas such as the economy, education, and culture.
Shafaq News
2 hours ago
- Shafaq News
Iraq records slight decline in poverty rate
Shafaq News – Baghdad (Updated at 14:06) Iraqi Minister of Planning Mohammed Tamim revealed a modest drop in the national poverty rate of almost 1%. Speaking at a press conference to announce the release of the National Multidimensional Poverty Index Report, Tamim said the report was developed in cooperation with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and is based on the findings of the national household social survey, which served as a key foundation for constructing Iraq's poverty index. 'The poverty rate in the country declined from 11.3% to 10.8% and continues to decrease gradually,' he noted. أطلقت #الحكومة_العراقية ، بالشراكة مع برنامج الأمم المتحدة الإنمائي ومبادرة أكسفورد للفقر والتنمية البشرية، رسمياً التقرير التحليلي لمؤشر الفقر متعدد الأبعاد في #العراق ، مُمثلةً بذلك خطوةً كبيرةً إلى الأمام في كيفية فهم البلاد للفقر ومعالجته.(1/2) — UNDP Iraq (@undpiniraq) July 30, 2025 The minister also announced plans to launch a gender-specific Multidimensional Poverty Index focused on women, 'making Iraq among the first countries in the world to issue a national-level report of this kind.' In turn, UNDP Deputy Resident Representative Sascha Graumann acknowledged Iraq's progress but emphasized the need to address persistent deprivation in provinces like al-Muthanna, Maysan, and Saladin, despite improvements in areas such as Baghdad and Kirkuk. 'Now that material poverty is beginning to decline, it is time to ensure that no region, woman, or community in Iraq is left behind,' Graumann stressed. A separate index focusing on child poverty is also being developed, based on data from the upcoming general census.
