Baghdad: The head of the Badr Organization’s Northern Branch, Muhammad Mahdi al-Bayati, has issued a warning to Masrour Barzani, Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Regional Government, regarding the potential exploitation of Kirkuk for electoral purposes.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, al-Bayati addressed a letter to Barzani, emphasizing the complexity and potential volatility of the Kirkuk issue. He described the city as a “powder keg” that could have widespread repercussions if ignited, urging Barzani to refrain from using Kirkuk as a tool for electoral gain or inciting tensions in the region.

This warning follows a statement by Masrour Barzani, who is also the Vice President of the Kurdistan Democratic Party, asserting that Kirkuk is occupied and should be returned to Kurdistan.