SULAYMANIYAH, Iraq — As the U.S.-Iran war reaches its apparent conclusion, Iraqi Kurdish leaders are positioning their semi-autonomous region as a key player in shaping the Middle East’s future. The two-day Slemani Strategic Forum, which kicked off Thursday, has drawn top officials, business leaders, and diplomats to discuss security and economic opportunities in the war’s aftermath.
Post-War Realignment
The forum comes just days after former U.S. President Donald Trump declared the conflict with Iran “effectively over,” citing recent midterm election results that saw Republican losses amid voter frustration with the war’s economic toll. The announcement marks a turning point for the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), which has long sought an end to hostilities that disrupted regional trade and energy markets.
KRG Deputy Prime Minister Qubad Talabani, whose April interview with Breitbart News predicted Trump’s dealmaking could resolve the conflict, now sees an opening for deeper U.S.-Kurdish collaboration. “The Kurds have learned to navigate a complex region,” Talabani said in a statement. “We want the world to know us as entrepreneurs, innovators, and partners in building lasting regional prosperity.”
Economic Bridges
Business leaders at the forum emphasized Kurdistan’s potential as an investment hub. Peshawa Siwayli, chairman of Alpha Steel Industries and a forum organizer, told Breitbart News the event aims to “build competitive businesses [and] attract long-term investment” to the region. The KRG’s Minister of Planning, Dara Rashid, added that the goal is to convert international partnerships into jobs and economic diversification.
Discussions also touched on Kurdistan’s role as a mediator between global powers and Middle Eastern states, with some officials floating the idea of U.S. energy firms expanding operations in Iraq and potentially Iran. The vision echoes Trump’s business-focused diplomacy in Venezuela following the ouster of Nicolás Maduro.
Regional and Global Voices
The forum’s guest list underscores Kurdistan’s widening diplomatic reach, with attendees from over 15 countries—including Iraqi President Nizar Amedi, European officials, and executives from multinational firms. Panels will address topics ranging from security cooperation to post-war reconstruction, with Kurdish leaders stressing their loyalty to U.S. partnerships forged during “difficult times.”
As the Middle East enters a new phase, the KRG appears determined to position itself not just as a survivor of regional turmoil, but as an architect of its future. “Our ambition,” Talabani said, “is to extend [U.S. ties] into the industries, investments, and opportunities that will define the next generation.”
Source: www.breitbart.com — https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2026/11/10/exclusive-end-of-u-s-iran-war-focuses-iraqi-kurds-on-middle-easts-challenges-opportunities-at-slemani-strategic-forum/