By Gloria Ogbonna
DELPHI, Greece — Qubad Talabani, Deputy Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) in Iraq, believes President Donald Trump has a rare opportunity to secure a sweeping agreement with Iran — one that could not only cement peace after the recent war but also ignite a powerful wave of economic growth benefiting both nations and the wider global economy.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with Breitbart News on the sidelines of the Delphi Economic Forum, Talabani outlined what he sees as a pivotal moment in Middle Eastern and global geopolitics. The interview took place during the fragile early days of a repeatedly extended ceasefire between the United States and Iran — a period Talabani described as critical for shaping the future of the region.
Talabani, the son of former Iraqi President Jalal Talabani, has emerged as one of the leading Kurdish voices advocating for regional stability, economic revitalization, and diplomatic engagement. His semi-autonomous Kurdish region borders Iran, giving him a direct stake in the consequences of both war and peace.
“The Deal Has to Be Between the U.S. and Iran”
Talabani stressed that any lasting agreement must remain strictly bilateral.
“The deal’s got to be between the U.S. and Iran, and he cannot allow a third party to ruin his deal,” Talabani said, expressing concern that outside actors could derail progress.
He praised Trump’s negotiating style, describing him as “a master of the deal” who understands that durable agreements require buy-in from both sides.
“If a deal is imposed by one side on the other, even if they reach an agreement, it may not stick,” Talabani explained. “So, what we need now is a deal that is between the United States and Iran.”
Talabani argued that if Trump remains focused on American interests and is not pressured by other nations to abandon diplomacy, the likelihood of securing an agreement increases significantly.
“I really don’t know how long it will take,” he said when asked about a timeline. “The only person who might know is President Trump. If he’s left to his own devices, and if other countries are not trying to dissuade him from a deal, then the chances of reaching that deal sooner improve.”
Peace First — Then Prosperity
For Talabani, the first step is regional de-escalation. Kurdistan and Iraq have felt the economic shockwaves of the conflict acutely, particularly due to disruptions in oil exports and trade.
“Well, first we need peace in the region and in Kurdistan,” he said. “We welcome the ceasefire. We welcome the extension of the ceasefire. As they say, it takes more bravery to end a war than to start one.”
He emphasized that Kurdistan is prepared to assist in facilitating dialogue, whether through quiet back-channel diplomacy or by leveraging its strategic geographic position to help stabilize tensions.
The economic impact of the war, he noted, has been profound. Iraq’s economy — including that of Kurdistan — depends heavily on oil revenue. When key trade routes such as the Strait of Hormuz are disrupted, oil exports stall and government revenues decline sharply. Trade between Iraq and Iran, a major component of Kurdistan’s economy, also suffers.
“The impact on the economy has been massive,” Talabani said. “That’s why we are very eager for progress so the economic angle can begin to normalize.”
The Strait of Hormuz: A Critical Bargaining Chip
Talabani underscored the strategic importance of the Strait of Hormuz, through which a substantial portion of the world’s oil supply flows. He argued that reopening it requires concrete diplomatic progress.
“I think there needs to be some concrete agreements between the United States and Iran before the strait opens,” he said. “If it could have been opened militarily, it would have been done by now.”
He described the strait as a powerful negotiating card for Tehran and suggested Iran would not relinquish that leverage without tangible concessions.
The global consequences of its closure, he added, extend far beyond the Gulf. Maritime economies like Greece have already felt the ripple effects, as shipping routes and energy flows are disrupted.
“The world is not ready to adjust to the closure of the strait,” Talabani warned. “Everyone wants this to open.”
Beyond Security: The Economic Opportunity
While much of the public conversation has focused on nuclear issues and ballistic missiles, Talabani believes the real transformative potential lies in economic cooperation.
“If you look beyond the security dynamic between America and Iran, there is a giant world of economic opportunity,” he said.
He suggested that a comprehensive deal could include lifting sanctions, expanding trade, and allowing American energy companies to help develop Iran’s vast but underutilized oil and natural gas reserves.
Iran’s economy, largely constrained for decades by sanctions, could benefit from modernization and foreign investment. At the same time, American companies would gain access to a significant new market.
“This is a mutually beneficial deal,” Talabani argued. “The opportunities are vast.”
He also floated the possibility of collaboration in mineral and rare earth development, broadening the scope of cooperation beyond hydrocarbons.
A Unified Iran and a Strategic Reality
Talabani cautioned against underestimating Iran’s internal cohesion. Contrary to assumptions that the regime might fracture under pressure, he described Iran as a state built on resilient institutions — military, civilian, paramilitary, and clerical — rather than solely on one individual leader such as Ali Khamenei.
“Iran is not a country where everything is tied to one individual,” Talabani said. “It’s a country of institutions.”
He argued that the war has, if anything, strengthened national unity within Iran, creating a climate where a negotiated settlement could allow both sides to claim victory.
“Both sides need to come out of this deal feeling victorious,” he said. “President Trump can say he achieved his objectives. Iran can say it proved resilient.”
Rejecting Regime Change via Kurdish Forces
Talabani also revealed that Kurdish leaders strongly opposed any strategy that would have used Iranian Kurds as a vehicle for regime change in Tehran. He warned that such a move could have resulted in devastating consequences.
“The Kurds would have been massacred had they been the tip of the spear,” he said, adding that Washington recognized early on that this was not a viable path.
Instead, he believes the focus should remain on diplomacy and economic integration rather than destabilization.
A Defining Moment
As Trump continues to weigh options and global stakeholders watch closely, Talabani sees a narrow but historic window of opportunity.
“This has gotten bigger than just the immediate objectives of the war,” he said. “Now it’s about the global economy.”
If structured correctly — blending security assurances with economic revival — Talabani believes a U.S.–Iran agreement could unleash enormous benefits: stabilizing the Middle East, reopening critical trade routes, revitalizing Iraq and Kurdistan, and creating what he describes as a worldwide economic boom.
For Talabani, the path forward is clear: peace through pragmatic deal-making — and an agreement bold enough to reshape the region for decades to come.
Source Breitbart
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