Nechirvan Barzani

Overview

Nechirvan Barzani is president of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq and a member of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP). Before becoming president, he served for many years as prime minister of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG). His career has placed him at the center of regional government, competition between Kurdistan’s principal parties, relations with Baghdad and diplomacy with neighboring Iran. After his uncle Masoud Barzani resigned the presidency following the 2017 Kurdistan Region independence referendum, Nechirvan became the KRG’s chief executive under a temporary redistribution of presidential powers.

Early life

Barzani belongs to a family central to Kurdish politics. His father, Edris Barzani, was the son of Mustafa Barzani, a leader of the KDP. Mustafa was therefore Nechirvan’s grandfather. Edris was the brother of Masoud Barzani, Nechirvan’s uncle and a former president of the Kurdistan Region. Edris died in 1987, clearing Masoud’s path to KDP leadership. Nechirvan later served as regional prime minister while Masoud led the party. Masoud’s son Masrour Barzani is Nechirvan’s cousin.

Career

As prime minister, Barzani governed through changing relations between the KDP and its principal rival, the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK). The parties once ran together as the Kurdistani List. In the July 25 regional election, the list retained a parliamentary majority, although its reported seat total fell from 89 to roughly 60. Their cooperation did not end competition over political authority. Masrour, then head of the Kurdish intelligence agency, gained greater influence when he succeeded Nechirvan as prime minister. Foreign officials visiting Erbil regularly met Masrour, Masoud and Nechirvan separately. Nechirvan and Masrour have competed over the Barzani family’s political legacy and the KDP’s future.

Following Masoud’s resignation in November 2017, an October 29 law temporarily divided presidential powers among the KRG prime minister, cabinet, parliamentary leadership and judiciary. As prime minister, Nechirvan became chief executive and external representative, with authority to call elections. He could approve deployment of Iraqi federal security forces inside KRG territory only with parliamentary approval. The transfer did not give him the commander-in-chief title over Peshmerga forces. His expanded role came amid a confrontation with Baghdad over federal security forces and border crossings after the independence referendum. Later, as president, he took part in a KRG ceremony announcing the unification of Peshmerga forces with Prime Minister Masrour Barzani and Deputy Prime Minister Qubad Talabani.

During the Yazidi genocide and captivity crisis that began in 2014, Barzani established the Yazidi Rescue Office to help free Yazidis held by Islamic State. By August 2018, the office had spent more than $10 million since 2014 rescuing captives. Thousands of Yazidis, primarily women and children, remained in Islamic State captivity in 2018, where they faced sexual slavery, forced marriage and other abuses.

Barzani returned to Tehran on January 21, 2018, for his first visit since the independence referendum. He met Iranian regime president Hassan Rouhani and security official Ali Shamkhani. Iran offered to help advance negotiations between Baghdad and the KRG. In October 2019, Barzani met Iranian regime foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif at a regional security conference in Doha; they discussed developments in Iraq and northern Syria.

In May 2024, Barzani led a senior Kurdistan Region delegation to Tehran and met Iranian regime supreme leader Ali Khamenei, president Ebrahim Raisi and Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps commander Hossein Salami, among other officials. His delegation sought Tehran’s help resolving disputes between Baghdad and Erbil. Afterward, he made his second Baghdad visit that month and met election officials. The dispute included a proposed postponement of the regional election to September 5, favored by the KDP and rejected by the PUK. Following Barzani’s petition, Iraq’s Supreme Judicial Council required five parliamentary seats to be allocated to minorities. On June 14, Barzani met Iranian general Mohammad Bagheri during Bagheri’s visit to northern Iraq; Masrour, Masoud and PUK leader Bafel Talabani also met him.

Ideology and statements

Barzani’s public role has centered on KDP leadership and the Kurdistan Region’s relations with Baghdad and neighboring states. After his May 2024 Tehran meetings, he acknowledged asking Iran to help resolve problems between Baghdad and Erbil. He denied raising mediation between the KDP and PUK. During the same visit, Iranian regime officials demanded that Baghdad and the Kurdistan Region prevent activity by Israel from Iraqi territory against Iran. His talks with Tehran therefore addressed unresolved political and security disputes; they did not mark their resolution.

Role in attacks or conflicts

Barzani’s government confronted Islamic State’s campaign against the Yazidis through the rescue office established during his premiership. In 2026, conflict involving Iran reached his home. A drone struck near his residence in Duhok on March 28, amid regional attacks that continued into early April. The United States condemned the attack and identified Iranian regime militia proxies in Iraq as responsible. Iraqi prime minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani spoke with Barzani and promised an investigation. Saudi Arabia condemned attacks targeting the residences of both Nechirvan and Masoud Barzani. In August, another Iranian drone attack targeted Masrour Barzani’s office.

Death or current status

Barzani remains president of the Kurdistan Region. In August 2026, his office confirmed that he had played a role in a United States backchannel for talks with Iran. That role followed years of direct contact with Iranian regime officials and came months after the attack on his residence.

Legacy

Barzani’s record combines long service as KRG prime minister, later service as president and leadership through the constitutional disruption that followed the 2017 referendum. The Yazidi Rescue Office is a significant part of his premiership’s response to Islamic State captivity. His standing within the KDP remains tied to its rivalry with the PUK and to competition with his cousin Masrour over the Barzani family’s future. His diplomacy has also required engagement with Tehran over Baghdad–Erbil disputes while the Iranian regime pressed demands concerning Israel and its militia proxies attacked Kurdish leaders.