Iran, Turkey Concerned Over Iraqi Kurdish Referendum

Top Iranian and Turkish generals raised alarm about the consequences of the Iraqi Kurdistan region’s planned independence referendum.

In a phone conversation on Thursday, Chairman of the General Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces Major General Mohammad Baqeri and his Turkish counterpart, General Hulusi Akar, said the referendum would have adverse impacts on the interests of the region’s people, Tasnim News Agency reported.

The two said such a move would endanger regional security, peace and stability.

They underlined the need for coordination among Iraq’s neighboring countries in opposing the referendum and preventing separatist plots that could cause political, social and security problems.

Officials in Iraq’s semi-autonomous Kurdistan region have announced the northern territory would hold the independence referendum on September 25.

Iraqi parliamentarians have rejected the legitimacy of the vote and the central government in Baghdad, which is strongly opposed to the move, has said it will do everything possible to keep the unity of the country intact.

Iraq’s neighbors, including Iran and Turkey, have also strongly objected to the decision.