During a press conference on the ongoing war with Iran, U.S. President Donald Trump told reporters that he expected the Kurds to help Iraq to resume oil exports.

“I expected that. We’ve gotten along with the Kurds for a long time,” President Trump said at the press conference.

Read More: Kurdistan Greenlights Iraqi Oil Exports Through Ceyhan: PM

On March 17, Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Prime Minister Masrour Barzani announced that the KRG had decided to allow Iraqi oil to flow through the Iraq-Turkey Pipeline (ITP) as soon as possible.

Iraq’s oil exports were initially halted due to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. As a result, Baghdad had to look for alternatives, such as the ITP, which runs through the Kurdistan Region.

Furthermore, President Trump said it would not be a good idea for Kurdish forces to enter Iran amid media speculation that the United States was arming Iranian Kurds. Iranian Kurdish parties have denied receiving any weapons.

“I’d rather have them stay away because I think they bring with them some problems and some difficulties and they bring death to themselves, but I’d rather have them stay away,” President Trump said.

Read More: KRG Not Part of Plan to Arm Iranian Kurds: Spokesperson

In early March, KRG spokesperson Peshawa Hawramani denied Western media reports that Iraqi Kurds are part of a plan to arm Iranian Kurdish opposition parties.

“Reports that speak about the role of the Kurdistan Region and the allegations claiming that we are part of a plan to arm and send Kurdish opposition parties into Iranian territory are completely unfounded. We categorically deny them and affirm that they are being published deliberately and maliciously,” he posted on X.