On Thursday, the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Ministry of Finance and Economy denied claims made by the head of the Iraqi Border Ports Authority Omar al-Waeli that the decline in border revenues was caused by the Kurdistan Region. 

“In previous years, the doors of border ports, customs offices, and border points were always open to joint teams from the Iraqi Federal Board of Supreme Audit in the Kurdistan Region,” the KRG Ministry of Finance and Economy said.

“Over the past two years, these teams conducted field visits to all these ports, auditing all data and information related to revenues. At the same time, all revenue details are submitted monthly to the federal Ministry of Finance within the trial balance report,” it said.

“However, the federal government has consistently worked to create new problems and obstacles aimed at reducing customs revenues by establishing customs offices between the governorates of the Kurdistan Region and the federal government, including offices such as al-Asad, Jemen, and Darman. 

It is worth noting that no country in the world imposes customs duties on goods and materials a second time along the same trade route, and constitutions and laws do not allow this,” the statement added.

Furthermore, the Finance Ministry also criticized the Iraqi Border Ports Authority for addressing issues such as the salaries of Kurdistan Region public employees.

“We would like to remind him that sending the Region’s share of Iraq’s budget is stipulated in the constitution and laws, and is not a charitable act or a favor. 

While all obligations have been fulfilled by the Kurdistan Region, the federal government has not fully met the Region’s rights and has, for 12 years, continuously pressured the livelihoods and salaries of the Region’s citizens,” it said.

“During the emergence of ISIS, when the Peshmerga were fighting the organization, the Region’s salaries were cut, while salaries continued to be sent regularly and without delay to areas under ISIS control. 

During the Covid-19 pandemic, when countries were providing aid to one another, and specifically when oil prices fell and commercial activity and domestic revenues were nearly nonexistent, the federal government cut the salaries of more than 1.2 million citizens in the Region,” it added.

“In conclusion, we affirm our readiness to prove the accuracy of all the facts mentioned above, and we affirm our right to take legal action against any person or official who accuses us falsely or without basis, " the Ministry underlined.

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The KRG Council of Ministers on Wednesday underlined that Baghdad has to pay unpaid government salaries to the Kurdistan Region.

According to the KRG, Baghdad still has not paid the November and December 2025 salaries, as well as some unpaid salaries from 2023 and 2024, which have been withheld without any legal or constitutional justification.

“Salaries are a legal right and entitlement of the region’s employees, and the KRG and the people of Kurdistan will not relinquish this right,” the KRG concluded.