Resolving Erbil-Baghdad Salary Issue Would Be Positive: U.S. Spox

June 11, 2025

U.S. Department of State Spokesperson Tammy Bruce on Tuesday, June 10, underlined that resolving the salary issue with Erbil would send a positive signal to U.S. companies, after Baghdad cut public salaries to the Kurdistan Region last month.

“We urge Baghdad and Erbil to resolve their issues through constructive dialogue consistent with their constitutional responsibilities. Resolving the salaries issue quickly sends a signal that Iraq is creating an environment in which U.S. companies would want to invest,” she told reporters.

“Successful resolution would also send a positive signal on broader cooperation for the benefit of all Iraqis, such as reopening the Iraq-Turkey Pipeline and additional energy exploration, including with U.S. companies.”

She also added that when speaking to Iraqi officials, such as Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio “emphasized the importance of stability and prosperity in Iraq and the region.

“He has done the same in recent meetings and conversations with Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani and Kurdistan Regional Government Prime Minister Masrour Barzani. U.S. support for a strong and resilient Iraqi Kurdistan Region remains a crucial element of our relationship with Iraq.”

Secretary of State Rubio and Prime Minister Barzani met during Prime Minister Barzani’s official visit to Washington, D.C. on May 23, in which Rubio reaffirmed U.S. support for a strong and resilient Kurdistan Region.

Also on Tuesday, U.S. Representative Abraham Hamadeh asked U.S. Army General Michael Kurilla, the head of U.S. Central Command, why the United States continues to subsidize Iraq while Baghdad is withholding salaries to the Kurdistan Region.

Furthermore, during the Visit Kurdistan launch event Prime Minister Barzani stated that the “federal government has unjustly and unlawfully suspended the salaries of the people of Kurdistan.

“This is part of a broader political pressure campaign to hold our region back from progress and prosperity.”