US Tapped Barzani to Host Secret Iran-US Talks: Axios Report

According to the International Desk of Webangah News Agency, the Axios website claimed that in mid-May, American negotiators seeking an agreement with Iran to end their dispute selected an individual to establish an informal communication channel: Nechirvan Barzani, President of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq.

Axios asserted that, according to two sources familiar with the details of the contact, Avril Haines, the departing Director of National Intelligence, informed Barzani that the White House believed he could assist in communication. Brett McGurk, who has served as the Middle East (West Asia) advisor to four U.S. presidents, stated in an interview that Nechirvan Barzani is a pragmatic and problem-solving figure. He is respected throughout the region and knows almost everyone in both Tehran and Washington. He is the person contacted in difficult and emergency situations.

The aforementioned website added that the source stated Haines emphasized to Barzani that this contact was made with the approval of President Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance. Barzani agreed to Haines’ request. The United States desired Barzani to host confidential negotiations between senior U.S. and Iranian negotiators in Erbil. The source indicated that Barzani spoke again with the Iranian side and conveyed this message to them. The Iranians did not reject the proposal but expressed concerns about their security, believing that Mossad has numerous agents and sources in Iraqi Kurdistan and fearing Israeli attempts on their lives in or en route to Erbil. The Erbil meeting never took place.