Iran condemns 'suspicious' drone attack on KRG premier's residence

Iran's Foreign Ministry on Monday condemned a drone attack on the residence of Masrour Barzani, prime minister of Iraq's Kurdish Regional Government (KRG), describing the incident as a suspicious development requiring scrutiny. Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei characterized the strike as "a highly suspicious development that must be approached with vigilance and scrutiny," according to Iran's official IRNA news agency. He reaffirmed Tehran's commitment to friendly relations with Baghdad and Erbil while urging all sides to resist destabilization efforts.

Baghaei called on Iraqi authorities to thwart what he termed the "sinister plots of the enemies of Iran and Iraq" aimed at undermining the "fraternal relations between the two nations." He cited previous warnings by Iraqi officials, including the national security adviser, regarding alleged foreign-linked cells planning "false flag" operations to sow discord between the neighboring countries.

Baghdad seeks clarification

Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein discussed the attack with Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi by telephone on Monday, according to the Iraqi Foreign Ministry. Hussein condemned the "unjustified attack" and requested official clarification from Tehran, stressing that such actions constituted a "dangerous escalation" with negative consequences for regional stability.

Araghchi responded that there was "no justification" for such actions given the "positive and strong relations" between Tehran and the KRG, particularly with the region's two main political parties. The conversation occurred amid ongoing efforts to maintain security cooperation along the shared border.

Attack specifics

The Iraqi Foreign Ministry confirmed that the strike targeted Barzani's residence and office using Hadid-110 drones, without specifying the aircraft's origin or reporting casualties. The incident marks a rare direct attack on senior Kurdish leadership, which maintains complex ties with neighboring Iran despite occasional friction over cross-border security issues.