Erdogan Threatens: The Kurdistan Region Will Face More Sanctions

One day after the news of the joint military exercises between Iran and Iraq following the Kurdistan independence referendum, the President of Turkey also threatened that sanctions from his country would increase if the Kurds insisted on their position. Meanwhile, discussions are underway about holding two more elections in the Kurdistan Region in the near future. The High Commission for the Referendum and Elections of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq announced on Wednesday, October 5, that more than 92% of eligible voters in last week's referendum voted in favor of the independence of this region from Iraq. However, the holding of this referendum angered Iraq, Turkey, and Iran, and Haider al-Abadi, the Prime Minister of Iraq, stated that he does not recognize it and called for the annulment of the result. On the other hand, the Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces also announced that Iran and Turkey have 'common and identical positions' regarding the 'Kurdistan referendum' and will not tolerate it. Now, according to Reuters, the President of Turkey on Tuesday, October 11, reiterated his longstanding position and threatened once again that the Kurdistan Region would face more sanctions. Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the President of Turkey, threatened during a meeting with his party members, the Justice and Development Party, that if the Kurds 'do not come to their senses,' sanctions against this autonomous region in Iraq will continue and increase. Previously, Iran had also announced that 'considering the recent developments in the region,' any loading of oil products from Iranian companies to the Kurdistan Region of Iraq or to that region is prohibited until further notice. Furthermore, Reuters reported on Tuesday, citing a local television station in Kurdistan, that two presidential and parliamentary elections will be held in the Kurdistan Region in less than a month. The Kurdish television network Rudaw announced that the date for these two elections is November 1. Currently, Masoud Barzani is leading the local government of the Kurdistan Region, a person who, despite significant international opposition, including from the United States and Germany, has pushed forward his plan and held the independence referendum. This has prompted several countries, primarily Iraq's neighbors, namely Syria, Turkey, and Iran, to mobilize and defend their opposition to the independence of this part of Iraq with all their might. The three countries, Syria, Turkey, and Iran, have a significant Kurdish minority and fear that these minorities may also aspire for independence. In this context, Iranian and Iraqi forces conducted military exercises 'near the borders of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq,' highlighting Rouhani's warning about the consequences of changes in the region's geographical borders and emphasizing Iran and Turkey's 'common positions on the Kurdistan referendum.'