No Rift Between Iran, Iraqi Kurdistan

A spokesman for the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps dismissed reports of disagreement between Iran and the semi-autonomous Kurdistan region of Iraq, saying the Kurdish friends will never allow any hostile action against Iran's national security.

Speaking to Tasnim News Agency on Wednesday, Lieutenant General Ramezan Sharif, the head of IRGC Public Relations Department, quashed media reports about tense ties between Tehran and Erbil following recent comments by a senior Iranian military official, slamming the rumors as a "failed scenario".

Attempts to make wrong interpretations of recent comments by a senior Iranian general about the Iraqi Kurdistan region's behavior toward Iran are part of a "failed scenario", Sharif underlined, saying the enemies will not achieve any gains from such attempts.

The remarks came after Major General Yahya Rahim Safavi, a top military advisor to the Leader of Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, cautioned the Barzani ruling family in Iraq's Kurdistan region against any green light for Saudis to arm anti-Iranian groups in the region.

"We warn the Barzanis [against] permitting the Saudi consulates in northern Iraq to supply weapons to [anti-Iran groups]," Safavi said on Monday, adding that the Iraqi Kurds should be mindful that if they enter into political games against Iran, then they should not expect any more help from Tehran.

The IRGC spokesman hailed age-old relations between Iran and the Iraqi Kurds, specifically with the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan political party, saying close ties have had "positive and precious" results for both sides.

Highlighting Iran's amicable ties with the Barzani family and the Talabani family, who lead major parties in Iraq's Kurdistan, Sharif said the rumors of discord between Iran and the Kurdistan region are spread by enemies in the wake of their successive defeats in the war in Iraq's Mosul and Syria's Aleppo.

"The adversaries are trying to whitewash their defeats by resorting to divisive plots and attempts to create division among regional nations, including Iran and the Kurdistan region," he said.

"Our friends in the Kurdistan region will not allow any measure against Iran's national interests."

Sharif stressed that security interests of Iran and the Kurdistan region are integrated and their friendly ties will not be damaged by the front of enemies of Iran and the supporters of takfiri and Salafi terrorists.