A meeting between the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) delegation and the Iraqi federal delegation, attended by Iraq’s ministers of finance and planning, has concluded, but salary payments have not yet been transferred.

A source told Channel8 that Iraqi Finance Minister Taif Sami stated, “Before implementing the agreement, we are unable to release salaries.”

According to a source from the Iraqi Ministry of Finance speaking to Channel8, the meeting focused on the distribution of non-oil revenues for the Kurdistan Region. Discussions were reportedly constructive, with both sides reaching a closer understanding on most outstanding issues.

At the same time, another Channel8 source confirmed that during the meeting, Taif Sami communicated to the Kurdistan delegation that, “Before the agreement between Erbil and Baghdad is executed, we cannot transfer salaries.” Subsequently, the KRG sent a letter to the Prime Minister of Iraq requesting that the salary for the month of June be sent, and they are currently awaiting a formal response.

The decisions made in these meetings emphasize the need for continuous coordination between the Kurdistan Region and the Federal Government until a final agreement is reached.

The Iraqi Council of Ministers, after a weekly session yesterday, stated in a press release that, according to Council Decision No. 550, the expenditure for KRG salaries for June has been approved. However, the final disbursement requires a report from the joint committee between Erbil and Baghdad to the federal government “so that the Kurdistan Region’s salaries can be transferred.”

The Council of Ministers stressed that the joint committee must determine within a week the exact share of Kurdistan’s non-oil revenues and forward it to the federal government.