Marco Rubio held a call with Masrour Barzani as the United States stepped up engagement with Kurdish leadership amid escalating tensions in the Middle East and disruptions to global energy markets.
According to the U.S. State Department, Rubio expressed gratitude to the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) for facilitating oil exports from Iraq, including from the Kurdistan region, to global markets at a time when supply chains are under pressure due to the ongoing conflict in Iran.
The call comes as rising oil prices and geopolitical instability have placed increased importance on alternative supply sources, with Kurdish oil exports playing a key role in maintaining global energy flows.
Rubio also conveyed condolences following a recent missile attack attributed to Iran that killed at least six Kurdish Peshmerga fighters and injured several others near Erbil, highlighting the growing security risks in the region.
The outreach underscores Washington’s continued reliance on Kurdish partners in Iraq as both a strategic and energy ally, particularly as the broader conflict with Iran intensifies and spills across multiple fronts.
The Kurdistan region has been repeatedly targeted in recent weeks as part of escalating hostilities, with missile and drone strikes underscoring its proximity to the wider conflict zone and its strategic significance.
The conversation reflects a dual U.S. priority, maintaining stability in Iraq while ensuring uninterrupted oil flows to global markets, as energy security becomes increasingly central to geopolitical strategy.
As tensions persist, diplomatic engagement with regional actors, such as the KRG, is expected to remain a key component of U.S. efforts to manage both security risks and the economic fallout from the conflict.
