Bafel Talabani Arrives in Baghdad Amid Hopes for Breakthrough on Kurdistan Salary Crisis

Peregraf

Bafel Talabani, President of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), arrived in Baghdad on Tuesday for high-stakes talks with top Iraqi officials aimed at resolving the ongoing salary crisis and oil revenue disputes between Erbil and Baghdad.

Talabani’s visit comes after a high-level meeting between the PUK and the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), attended by PUK leader Bafel Talabani and KDP President Massoud Barzani. A source familiar with the discussions told Peregraf that the Baghdad trip was a joint decision made during that meeting, signaling a renewed push to reach a lasting agreement after previous negotiations fell through.

Upon arrival, Talabani met with Faiq Zidan, President of Iraq’s Supreme Judicial Council, followed by a meeting with Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani. According to a statement from the Prime Minister’s office, "During the meeting, several national issues and dossiers were discussed, including the file concerning the handover of both oil and non‑oil revenues by the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, as well as the payment of Kurdistan employees’ salaries. Emphasis was placed on the importance of coordination and joint efforts to resolve shared issues in accordance with existing constitutional and legal frameworks, and the ruling of the Federal Supreme Court in this regard".

Talabani was accompanied by Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein and is expected to continue meetings with senior Iraqi leaders on Wednesday.

“The aim of the visit is to find a quick and joint solution to the problems based on the conditions and proposals of Erbil and Baghdad, so that both sides are satisfied,” a PUK source told Peregraf.

Meanwhile, Iraqi media outlets report that the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) and the federal government are “close to an agreement.” UTV stated that most points of contention have been addressed, while Fallujah TV said the KRG is expected to announce its proposed solution later today.

The salary crisis, which has left civil servants in Kurdistan unpaid for May and June, has severely impacted the local economy, undermined public confidence, and intensified pressure on both Kurdish and Iraqi leadership to act swiftly.