The former president of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), Masoud Barzani, expressed his disappointment with the U.S., saying that Washington should have not let the Iraqi government attack the KRG following the independence referendum, considering the alliance between them.

Speaking in an interview with NPR for the first time since his resignation, Barzani said his people are re-evaluating their close alliance with the U.S. after the U.S. did not back the KRG's failed independence push that led to his resignation.

"They [Iraqi military] were using American weapons, tanks and the others that the American government gave to the Iraqi military to use in the fight against Daesh. But they used it against the people, and the Americans remained silent. That was not expected either," Barzani said, adding that this is not going to leave a positive impact on the public in Iraqi Kurdistan because "the love, the hope and the trust that the people have in the U.S. has declined and is decreasing by the day."

Barzani also said he is unapologetic for holding the independence referendum and its results.

"I am very proud that we have given that opportunity to the Kurdistani people to express their vote, and I do not regret on that," he said.