Criticism of the Kurdish Independence Referendum; Erdogan: Turkish Army Deployed at the Border

Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the President of Turkey, criticized the holding of the Kurdish independence referendum in Iraq on Monday, October 3, stating that the Turkish army has been deployed at the border with Iraq and is ready to take "necessary actions." The independence referendum for Iraqi Kurdistan began on Monday morning, with approximately 12,000 polling stations opening at 8 AM. More than five million three hundred thousand people are expected to participate in this referendum, with preliminary results set to be announced 24 hours after voting. Previously, Iran, Turkey, Syria, and the central government of Iraq opposed the holding of this referendum. The United States and the Secretary-General of the United Nations have also expressed their opposition to the actions of the Kurdistan Regional Government. However, officials from the Kurdistan Region have emphasized that due to their demands being ignored, and since ultimately negotiations or any other solution must lead towards "independence," this referendum will take place. Masoud Barzani, the President of the Kurdistan Region, stated that "independence is the only way to guarantee a future free of violence for the Kurds of Iraq." The Israeli government has also expressed its support for the establishment of a "Kurdish state" in northern Iraq and for the Kurds achieving an independent state. According to reports, Erdogan also mentioned on Monday that the Habur border crossing remains closed from both sides. Previously, the Turkish army had announced a military exercise involving its tank units near the northern borders of Iraq and at the Silopi-Habur border, the most important border gate between Turkey and the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, which was scheduled to take place a week before the Kurdish independence referendum. Turkey, as the most populous country with a Kurdish population, is concerned that the outcome of this referendum could strengthen separatist motivations among Kurds in Turkey. Meanwhile, reports indicate that the Turkish President threatened on Monday that Turkey would cut off oil exports from Iraqi Kurdistan to the world. Additionally, Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim threatened that Ankara would impose sanctions on Iraqi Kurdistan. He did not specify these sanctions but mentioned that a group of Turkish ministers is reviewing the details of this action. The Prime Minister also announced the possibility of closing Turkey's airspace to the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. Iran also closed its airspace to this region on Sunday, citing a request from the central government of Iraq. In the meantime, the Turkish Foreign Ministry issued a warning on Monday, urging its citizens in the provinces of Dohuk, Erbil, and Sulaymaniyah in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq to leave as soon as possible if possible. Meanwhile, according to Reuters, Walid Muallem, the Syrian Foreign Minister, announced Syria's opposition to the holding of the Kurdish independence referendum on Monday. He emphasized the need to maintain Iraq's territorial integrity and stated that Syria opposes any actions that would lead to the fragmentation of that country. Iran's emphasis on the need to maintain Iraq's territorial integrity was reiterated by the Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson on Monday in response to the Kurdish independence referendum. According to ISNA news agency, Bahram Qasemi stated in a press conference, "We are committed to the territorial integrity, national sovereignty, and democratic developments in Iraq and will pursue it." He denied reports of the Iranian consul in Erbil being summoned, stating, "This news was published by some Western media and is incorrect and false. Such an event did not occur, and this is a media campaign ahead of the referendum in the region that pursued specific objectives." According to the Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson, "Any action contrary to the stability, security, and territorial integrity of the Iraqi government is inappropriate and wrong and could lead to developments and events that would affect all people in the region, particularly the Kurdish people." In another statement, the head of the National Security and Foreign Policy Commission of Parliament referred to Iran's "covert actions" regarding the Kurdish referendum, stating that Masoud Barzani's decision is not in favor of the Kurdistan Region and Iraq's territorial integrity. Aladdin Boroujerdi, in an interview with ILNA news agency, emphasized the need for more decisive decisions from the Iraqi government, stating that decisions regarding Tehran's relations with the Kurdistan Region of Iraq will be made by Iran's Supreme National Security Council after the referendum. He stressed that Iran does not recognize the holding of the Kurdish referendum and added, "It is assumed that Iraq, as our neighboring country, will make more decisive decisions regarding the fragmentation of its own country." Earlier, Hassan Rouhani, the President of Iran, in a phone call with Haider al-Abadi, the Prime Minister of Iraq, stated: "The Islamic Republic of Iran fully supports the central government of Iraq." He added, "Everyone should know that their legitimacy is within the framework of the Iraqi constitution," and violating the Iraqi constitution means taking illegal actions. According to the state news agency IRNA, Haider al-Abadi also stated in this phone call that "Barzani's move in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq will lead developments towards a new confrontation in Iraq." He elaborated on the extensive measures taken by the central government of Iraq to counter the Kurdish referendum, stating: "The central government has granted powers to the Kurdistan Region of Iraq far beyond what is stated in the Iraqi constitution, and this move by Mr. Barzani is an action against the territorial integrity and constitution of Iraq, which is absolutely unacceptable." According to Haider al-Abadi, the referendum in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq is unconstitutional, and any result from it will also be illegal, and the central government will never accept it and will not negotiate on this matter, and the officials of the region must understand that they should never think about the fragmentation of Iraq. The central government of Iraq had previously threatened that it would fight to maintain the integrity of the country and is even prepared to cut off the Kurdistan Region's access to oil revenues. The Islamic Republic of Iran also conducted military exercises in northwestern Iran on Sunday, one day before the Kurdish independence referendum. In this regard, some unofficial reports indicated artillery shelling of some border villages in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq by Iranian artillery. Meanwhile, Iranian news agencies emphasized that Iran used Air Force fighter jets during military exercises conducted by the army and the IRGC in the western and northwestern border areas of the country.