Iraqi Kurdistan’s president, Massoud Barzani warned US Secretary of State John Kerry on Tuesday that with the recent terrorist assaults sweeping through northern and western Iraq, “we are facing a new reality and a new Iraq.”

Iraqi Kurdistan’s president, Massoud Barzani warned US Secretary of State John Kerry on Tuesday that with the recent terrorist assaults sweeping through northern and western Iraq, “we are facing a new reality and a new Iraq.”

Kerry made an unannounced visit to Iraq’s Kurdish region to supposedly highlight “the important role that the Kurds can play in helping the central government address... challenges for the benefit of all Iraqis," State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said.

Kerry stressed that if the Kurds were to withdraw from the Baghdad government, it would “accelerate a lot of negative trends.”

"As everybody knows this is a very critical time for Iraq and the government formation challenge is the central challenge that we face," Kerry told Barzani.

On his part, Barzani seems to be resistant in staying intact with the Baghdad government, but told the US diplomat that the Kurds seek “a solution for the crisis that we have witnessed.”

Pressed on whether Iraqi Kurds would seek independence, Barzani told CNN ahead of Tuesday’s talks “the time is here for the Kurdistan people to determine their future and the decision of the people is what we are going to uphold.”

 “During the last 10 years we did everything in our ability… to build a new democratic Iraq, but unfortunately the experience has not been successful” Barzani added, as he called for Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki to step down.

Kerry’s visit to Iraqi Kurdistan comes after his meeting with Al-Maliki in Baghdad Monday, where he said America’s support for Iraqi authorities against ISIL largely depends on Iraq’s ability to form a new government.

Al-Maliki assured Kerry that he would meet a July 1 deadline to form the new inclusive government.