President of the Kurdistan Region, Nechirvan Barzani, held a phone call on Saturday (May 23, 2026) with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi to discuss the latest political and security developments in the region. Both sides reviewed the rapid developments and the repercussions of current tensions on Iraq and the Kurdistan Region. The talks focused on ways to strengthen bilateral relations between Iraq and the Kurdistan Region on one hand, and the Islamic Republic of Iran on the other, particularly regarding economic and commercial exchange, as well as joint coordination to protect border security. Both parties emphasized the need for regional countries to intensify efforts to establish security and stability in the Middle East and discussed several issues of mutual interest.