Southern Kurdistan Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani and his deputy Qûbad Talabani went to Baghdad on Saturday.

Barzani, Talabani and KDP official Fûad Hisên have met with Iraqi Prime Minister Haider Al-Abadi in Baghdad. While details about the meeting are not clear, this is the first meeting held between the two sides after the controversial independence referendum of 25 September 2017.

Before the referendum in Southern Kurdistan, Barzani had stated that “There is a bankrupt government in Baghdad”, referring to Abadi.

Abadi had also called the Kurdistan Regional Government “bankrupt” after the Iraqi army and affiliated Hashd al-Shaabi militia seized control of Kirkuk and disputed areas on 16 October 2017.

Barzani and Talabani will reportedly visit Iran for a series of talks with senior Iranian officials.