Dana Gas's Baghdad gas deal signals Iraq's slow break from Iran's energy grip

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    By Dr. Pshtiwan Faraj | Kurdish Policy Analysis The one-year agreement is modest in size but could reshape Iraq's gas market, strengthen the Kurdistan Region's strategic role, and gradually erode Tehran's decades-long energy leverage.  Dana Gas's one-year gas agreement with Baghdad could mark the beginning of Iraq's gradual shift away from dependence on Iranian gas while elevating the Kurdistan Region's strategic importance. For years, Iran has occupied an indispensable position in Iraq's energy sector. Every summer, when electricity demand surges, Iraqi officials have relied heavily on Iranian natural gas to keep power stations operating despite recurring supply disruptions, sanctions complications, and political tensions. That long-standing dependency may now be beginning to change. Dana Gas and Crescent Petroleum have signed an agreement with Iraq's Ministry of Electricity to supply 100 million standard cubic feet per day (100 MMscf/d) of n...
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President Barzani calls on Kurdish political forces to meet, break deadlock


 

In a statement marking Eid al-Adha, President Barzani called on the Kurdistan Region’s political parties to meet and “cease the futile conflict and self-destruction that has burdened the political process in the Region for some time.”

By Dr. Pshtiwan Faraj

Sulaimani, Iraqi Kurdistan — 27 May 2026 

President Masoud Barzani on Tuesday called on Kurdistan Region’s political parties to meet and end internal conflicts that have delayed the political process, over 18 months since elections were held.

 

In a statement marking Eid al-Adha, President Barzani, leader of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), called on the Kurdistan Region’s political parties to meet and “cease the futile conflict and self-destruction that has burdened the political process in the Region for some time.”

 

“I call upon the political forces to meet … in a spirit of sincerity and patriotism, to address the political deadlock and end this tense political situation. This is a moral, national, and patriotic duty,” Barzani said.

 

The Kurdistan Region held its parliamentary elections in October 2024, with the KDP emerging victorious with 39 seats, followed by the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) with 23. 

 

The two main parties have yet to reach an agreement on forming the next cabinet. 

 

A key sticking point has been top positions and sovereign ministries in the Kurdistan Region, particularly the interior ministry - a post the PUK is vying for.

 

“This is a moral, national, and patriotic duty, and it is necessary for all parties to deal with it responsibly and return to the right path,” Barzani said, while hoping the Eid al-Adha holiday would mark “the beginning of an improvement in the situation of the Kurdistan Region.” 

 

Earlier in May, KDP welcomed any efforts by the Kurdistan Region’s political forces to reactivate the parliament, stressing the need for an active legislature to safeguard the Region’s interests.

 

On Wednesday, a senior member of the Kurdistan Justice Group (Komal) said the party supports the KDP’s idea to hold snap elections in the Kurdistan Region amid a prolonged political deadlock that has stalled government formation 19 months after elections.

#Kurdistan #Barzani #KDP #PUK #KurdishPolitics #Iraq #Erbil #Sulaimani #SnapElections #MiddleEast #Geopolitics #KurdistanParliament #MasoudBarzani #PoliticalCrisis #BreakingNews

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