At a Glance

• British National Security Adviser Jonathan Powell has met senior Iraqi and Kurdistan Region leaders.

• His visit comes amid efforts to bring weapons under state authority in Iraq.

• Powell has decades of experience negotiating with armed groups.

• He helped negotiate the Good Friday Agreement in Northern Ireland in 1998.

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British National Security Adviser Jonathan Powell has held meetings with senior Iraqi and Kurdistan Region officials during a visit to Iraq, drawing attention to Baghdad’s efforts to bring weapons under state control and Powell’s longstanding experience in negotiations with armed groups.

Key Statements and Focus Area

• Iraqi government policy: Powell expressed Britain’s support for the Iraqi government’s agenda, including efforts to regulate weapons and place them under state authority.

• Negotiation experience: Powell played a key role in the negotiations that led to the 1998 Good Friday Agreement in Northern Ireland.

• Dialogue with armed groups: Through his diplomatic career and the conflict resolution organization Inter Mediate, Powell has supported negotiations as a means of addressing armed conflicts.

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Meetings With Iraqi and Kurdistan Region Leaders

Powell met Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Faleh al-Zaidi, National Security Adviser Qasim al-Abudi, and Faiq Zidan, president of Iraq’s Supreme Judicial Council. During his meetings, Powell expressed Britain’s support for the Iraqi government’s agenda, which includes bringing weapons under state authority.

He also met senior Kurdistan Region and political leaders, including PUK President Bafel Jalal Talabani, Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani, Prime Minister Masrour Barzani, and Deputy Prime Minister Qubad Talabani.

Observers have linked Powell’s visit to Iraq’s efforts to consolidate state authority over weapons. However, the precise scope of his discussions on the issue has not been publicly detailed in the supplied information.

A Career Built Around Negotiation

Powell began his career in journalism, working for the BBC and Granada Television, before entering the British diplomatic service in 1979. He later became chief of staff and a senior adviser to former British Prime Minister Tony Blair.

He played a central role in negotiations between the British government and political representatives involved in the Northern Ireland conflict. The talks culminated in the Good Friday Agreement, signed on April 10, 1998, which established a political framework for ending decades of conflict known as the Troubles.

In 2011, Powell founded Inter Mediate, an organization focused on resolving armed conflicts through dialogue and negotiation. His experience includes engagement with non-state armed groups, including the Irish Republican Army during the Northern Ireland peace process. Powell also set out his approach to negotiations with armed groups in his 2014 book, Talking to Terrorists.

Powell’s Previous Engagement With Syria

Powell’s experience in conflict resolution has also drawn attention in relation to Syria. A September 2025 report by The New York Times described efforts by conflict resolution specialists to establish communication between Western governments and Ahmed al-Sharaa, formerly known as Abu Mohammed al-Jolani, when he led Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS).

According to the report, Powell met al-Sharaa while leading Inter Mediate. Powell also arranged a 2023 visit to Syria by Robert Ford, a former US ambassador to the country. Ford confirmed the arrangement on May 5, 2025, according to the supplied information.

These engagements reflect Powell’s experience in facilitating contact between governments and armed groups, including in conflicts where formal diplomatic channels have been limited.

FYI

Iraq has faced longstanding challenges in consolidating state control over weapons held by armed groups outside the regular security forces. The issue involves the authority of state institutions, the role of armed factions, and the government’s ability to enforce security decisions.

The Good Friday Agreement, signed in 1998 by the British and Irish governments and political parties in Northern Ireland, established a power-sharing system and a framework for addressing the conflict. Powell’s role in the negotiations helped shape his reputation as a specialist in political negotiations and conflict resolution.

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