Iraqi officials urge resolution of Baghdad-Erbil disputes after renewed talks

BAGHDAD, Iraq — Disputes between Baghdad and Erbil have returned to the political agenda following renewed public discussion. Former Iraqi parliament speaker Mahmoud al-Mashhadani, speaking at a dialogue session in Baghdad, described the two-decade rift as a crisis shaped by geography and politics, saying it could be resolved in a limited number of sessions if political will exists. At the top of the unresolved files is a long-pending oil and gas law, which has appeared on the parliamentary agenda since the body's early years without reaching final text. Former Industry Minister Mohammed al-Deraji said the crisis does not stem from a single file, listing the general budget, Article 140 of the constitution, the status of Peshmerga forces and multiple security formations as additional points of contention. He added that oil production, exports, customs and taxation also remain unresolved. Ayla Talabani, an adviser to the Prime Minister, said areas of common ground between Erbil and Baghdad should be assessed during government formation and budget approval stages. She cautioned that leaving disputed files open allows crises to accumulate, calling for the dispute process not to be delayed further.