The United States has called on political leaders in both Baghdad and the Kurdistan Region to accelerate efforts to form their new governments following Iraq’s parliamentary elections, according to a State Department official speaking to Channel8.

In a written response to Channel8, the official said Washington “encourages leaders in both the Iraqi Kurdistan Region and federal Iraq to quickly form their respective governments,” emphasizing that a timely transition is essential for stability.

The official stressed that the makeup of the next federal cabinet is ultimately an internal matter.

The composition of the Iraqi government is a matter for Iraqis, and only Iraqis, to decide

the statement read.

This comes as Iraqi political blocs continue negotiations over selecting the next prime minister, while Kurdish parties work in parallel to form the new Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG).

Trump administration signals firm policy direction

The State Department official also underscored the broader direction of U.S. policy toward Iraq under President Donald Trump, noting that Washington intends to recalibrate the relationship according to American priorities.

Under President Trump’s leadership, we will pursue a U.S.-Iraq relationship that aligns with U.S. interests

the official told Channel8.

The remark reflects Washington’s increasing focus on ensuring that any new Iraqi government supports long-term stability, counterterrorism cooperation, and balanced regional diplomacy.

Evolving political landscape

The statement comes at a critical moment, as political blocs in Baghdad continue intense negotiations to identify the largest parliamentary coalition and move toward forming the new cabinet. In the Kurdistan Region, party leaders are simultaneously working to finalize their own governmental structure following regional elections.

Diplomats in Baghdad and Erbil say the coming weeks will be pivotal, with both the federal and regional governments expected to announce key political decisions.