ERBIL — Kurdish leader Masoud Barzani, president of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), received on Monday US Ambassador to Iraq Alina Romanowski to discuss the political landscape following the Kurdistan Region’s recent parliamentary elections.

In the meeting, also attended by US Consul General in Erbil Steven Bitner, Romanowski congratulated Barzani on success of the parliamentary elections in the Kurdistan Region. She praised the peaceful and democratic conduct of the elections, noting that they showcased a positive image of Kurdistan.

Barzani expressed gratitude to the international community and the Iraqi High Independent Electoral Commission for their contributions to the election’s success, acknowledging some technical challenges but emphasizing the overall success.

Discussions included steps toward forming the new Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) cabinet and ongoing negotiations among political parties. The Kurdish leader confirmed that the KDP has established a team to engage in discussions about the cabinet formation and set priorities for the new government.

The leaders also exchanged views on the broader political and security situation in Iraq and the Middle East. They discussed developments in the Iraqi political process, including the election of a new speaker of the Iraqi parliament.