Peregraf — Bafel Talabani, President of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), received a phone call from Abbas Araghchi, the Foreign Minister of the Islamic Republic of Iran, according to the PUK’s media office. The officials discussed recent military developments and the broader war in the region.
During the conversation, Talabani emphasized the necessity of pursuing peaceful solutions and returning to dialogue to preserve stability in the Middle East, framing the PUK’s efforts as centered on diplomacy. Araghchi, in turn, thanked Talabani for his role in maintaining stability in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region, expressing respect for the PUK’s peaceful position and pledging continued communication.
The call comes a day after the PUK confirmed a separate discussion between Talabani and U.S. President Donald Trump regarding the ongoing war with Iran. In a statement issued following a March 3 meeting of the PUK Political Bureau, chaired by Talabani, the party said Trump “clarified his objectives in this war” and expressed appreciation for the PUK’s influence in Iraq.
The bureau meeting, held amid rising regional tensions, focused on safeguarding the Kurdistan Region, protecting civilians, and upholding Iraq’s sovereignty. Talabani briefed members on a series of high-level engagements, including discussions with Tom Barrack, a special envoy representing Trump, and Mazloum Abdi, commander of the Syrian Democratic Forces, centering on Syria’s future and the implementation of the January 29 agreement between Damascus and the SDF.
PUK officials stressed their readiness to leverage regional and international relationships to de-escalate tensions and promote stability across Iraq and the wider Middle East.
The confirmation of the Trump–Talabani call follows earlier reporting by Axios, which described Washington’s outreach to Kurdish leaders as “sensitive,” coming amid growing U.S. strategic interest in Kurdish-controlled areas, particularly along the Iran–Iraq border. The report also noted months of behind-the-scenes lobbying by Israeli officials, reflecting long-standing security ties with Kurdish groups across Iraq, Syria, and Iran.
While the PUK did not disclose the specifics of Trump’s war objectives, the party described the call as an opportunity to understand U.S. strategy and explore ways to strengthen relations between Iraq and the United States. The bureau concluded by reiterating its commitment to peace efforts, warning that continued escalation could threaten regional stability, and urging all parties to prioritize dialogue over conflict.