TEHRAN – Iran's ambassador to Iraq, Mohammad Kazem Al-Sadegh, has affirmed the strong and growing relationship between Iran and the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. 

During a meeting with Masoud Barzani on Thursday, head of the Kurdistan Region Democratic Party, the ambassador highlighted the deep-rooted nature of the relationship, emphasizing security and trade as key pillars for regional development. 

Al-Sadegh's statement comes as Barzani leads a high-level delegation to Baghdad after a six-year absence, seeking to improve relations between the Kurdistan Region and the Iraqi federal government.

Iraq’s Kurdistan region has also been trying to foster closer relations with Iran. The head of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, Nechirvan Barzani, visited Tehran earlier this year to hold talks with high-ranking Iranian officials including Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei and the late President Ebrahim Raisi. 

Analysts viewed the visit as a clear message of Erbil's desire to expand and strengthen all-out relations with Iran.