PUK Spokesman Denies Reports of Agreement Between Bafel Talabani and Masoud Barzani

Peregraf — The Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) has rejected media reports claiming that an agreement was reached between PUK President Bafel Talabani and Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) leader Masoud Barzani during their meeting earlier today in Pirmam, Erbil. 

In a statement, PUK spokesman Karwan Gaznayi said the meeting was “positive and held in a very calm atmosphere,” focusing on current issues related to the Kurdistan Region, Iraq, and the wider region. However, he stressed that claims circulating on some media outlets and social media about an agreement on government positions are false.

“We officially and categorically deny these rumors,” Gaznayi said, adding that any agreement between the two sides would be announced publicly through official channels.

Sources familiar with the talks said the discussions included ongoing negotiations over a joint Kurdish candidate for the Iraqi presidency, as well as efforts to form a new Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) cabinet. No final decisions were announced following the meeting.

The talks come amid continued negotiations between the KDP and PUK to resolve outstanding political differences and coordinate positions at both the federal and regional levels.