An Iraqi Kurd wears a scarf bearing a portrait of the Iraqi Kurdish leader Massud Barzani, during a protest in support of him, in Arbil, the capital of autonomous Iraqi Kurdistan, on October 30, 2017. AFP / SAFIN HAMED
Washington: The United States commended former Iraqi-Kurdish president Massud Barzani's decision to step down on Monday, pledging to work closely with his nephew and prime minister Nechirvan Barzani.
"Barzani is a historic figure and courageous leader of his people, most recently in our common fight to destroy ISIS," State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said, a day after Barzani's resignation.
"This decision represents an act of statesmanship during a difficult period."
