Barzani Criticizes Lack of International Support for Kurdistan Independence Referendum

Masoud Barzani, the President of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, criticized foreign parties, including the United States, on Sunday for not supporting the region during its independence referendum. In his first televised speech after the parliament of the Kurdistan Region accepted his resignation, Barzani emphasized that 'three million votes for the independence of Kurdistan have created a history that cannot be erased.' He also stated that 'no one except the mountains of Kurdistan stood by us on this path.' Barzani further mentioned that tanks intended for the fight against the Islamic State (ISIS) were used against the Kurds, criticizing the U.S. for allowing Iraqi forces to use these tanks. The President of the Kurdistan Region also claimed that American weapons were used against the Kurds by Iranian-backed militias. He stressed that 'without the help of the Peshmerga, Iraqi forces could not have liberated Mosul from ISIS alone.' He then lamented, 'Why should the U.S. punish Kurdistan?' According to a Reuters report, both the Kurdistan and Iraqi flags were visible in the background during Barzani's speech. Masoud Barzani has been the President of the autonomous Kurdistan Region of Iraq since 2005, and his presidency will end in two days at the end of October this year. On Saturday, Barzani informed the Kurdistan parliament in a letter that he does not wish to extend his presidency and will resign on Wednesday, November 1. He also requested that the Kurdistan parliament take necessary measures to fill the power vacuum. The Kurdistan parliament discussed the division of powers following Barzani's resignation on Sunday, but reports indicated that some protesters against Barzani's resignation stormed towards the parliament. Reuters reported that protesters identifying themselves as Peshmerga attempted to enter the parliament building, and gunfire was heard nearby. The Associated Press also reported clashes outside the Erbil parliament following Barzani's televised speech. Additionally, published images showed gatherings in support of Masoud Barzani in various cities of the Kurdistan Region on Sunday night. In his televised remarks, Barzani accused rival Kurdish groups of betrayal against the Kurdistan Region, stating that those who surrendered Kirkuk without resistance to Iraqi forces committed a 'great betrayal.' According to a senior aide to Masoud Barzani, stepping down from the presidency does not mean the end of his political career, as 'he will remain in politics by leading the Supreme Political Council.' In this context, Tillerson called for resolving disputes between Baghdad and Erbil through dialogue, while Trump stated that the U.S. does not side with either party in the Iraq-Kurd conflict. Iraqi forces took control of Kirkuk, and the U.S. urged 'all parties' in Iraq to avoid escalating tensions. The U.S. Secretary of Defense called for restraint from both Iraq and the Kurds in their conflicts. Why does Israel support Kurdish independence? The U.S. does not recognize the independence referendum in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq.