Commander Blames Israel for Referendum "Plot" in Iraqi Kurdistan Region

Rasa - Chief of Staff of Iran's Armed Forces Major General Mohammad Hossein Baqeri blasted the referendum for independence in the Iraqi Kurdistan region as a "plot" hatched by Israel and its allies.

News ID: 432694

Date: 26 September 2017 - 19:40

RNA - "The Zionist regime and the world arrogance are behind this issue (the referendum)," General Baqeri said, addressing a ceremony in Tehran on Tuesday.

The referendum was held on Monday in defiance of the central government in Baghdad, which says the referendum is unconstitutional and called on the Kurdish leadership to drop the plan.

Iran, Iraq, and Turkey have jointly voiced concerns about the Kurdish independence vote, warning that it could fan the flames of tensions in the Middle East.

The UN Security Council also unanimously issued a statement on Thursday voicing alarm over “the potentially destabilizing impact” of the plebiscite. The 15-member council urged “dialogue and compromise” to address the differences between Baghdad and the Kurdish authorities.

Iran's Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) announced on Sunday that it has closed its airspace to all flights to and from the Iraqi Kurdistan region at the demand of the Baghdad government.

"All Iranian flights to Soleimaniyeh and Erbil as well as flights from the Iraqi Kurdistan region passing through the Iranian airspace came to a halt at the demand of Iraq's central government," SNSC Spokesman Keivan Khosravi said.

He said that the decision was taken after the failure of Iran's good-will political efforts to convince the Iraqi Kurdistan region's officials not to hold an independence referendum.

Khosravi added that the hasty decision by some Kurdistan region officials will limit the Kurds' power as an actor and in constructive talks and will create serious challenges for Iraq's sovereignty and the security of the Kurdish people, Iraq and the region.

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