Erdogan: Turkey is Considering Sanctions Against Iraqi Kurdistan

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan stated that Ankara will consider imposing sanctions against the Kurdistan Region due to the upcoming independence referendum. Turkey has strongly opposed the referendum scheduled for Monday, October 3rd. The central government of Iraq has also deemed this referendum illegal and announced that it will not recognize it. Following escalating tensions between Turkey and the Kurdistan Region, Turkey has deployed its forces to the Iraqi border and recently conducted military exercises with about 100 tanks and military equipment at its border with Iraqi Kurdistan. Erdogan, who is in New York to attend the UN General Assembly, warned world leaders on Tuesday that the referendum in northern Iraq could ignite new conflicts in the Middle East. According to Anadolu Agency, Erdogan told reporters outside his hotel in New York that the National Security Council and the cabinet will discuss potential sanctions against the Kurdistan Region on Friday. Due to the Kurdistan referendum, the National Security Council and cabinet meeting has been scheduled earlier than usual for Friday, September 22nd. Erdogan stated, "In the National Security Council, we will inform the government of our decision. The cabinet will also discuss it. Both the cabinet and the National Security Council will evaluate this issue and announce their position on the types of sanctions we can impose." Turkey has developed its economic relations with the Kurdistan Region over the years, with the region exporting thousands of barrels of oil daily through Turkey to other countries. On Tuesday, Masoud Barzani, the leader of the Kurdistan Region, gave Baghdad a "two to three days" deadline to present proposals to halt the referendum. Barzani stated among his supporters that if Baghdad does not offer a favorable option, "it is impossible for the referendum to be delayed." He emphasized that the aim of the referendum is to "tell the world that we want independence." The Federal Supreme Court of Iraq ruled on Tuesday that the referendum must be halted until the court reviews its legality. Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi has claimed in a complaint to this court that the separation of any province or region from Iraq is "against the constitution." The Kurdistan Region also has disputes regarding its boundaries with the central government of Iraq, with one of the disputed areas being the oil-rich province of Kirkuk. Reports indicate that on Tuesday night, following gunfire at a pro-independence gathering in Kirkuk, one person was killed and two others were injured. Meanwhile, Muin al-Kadhimi, one of the commanders of the Popular Mobilization Forces, warned of increasing ethnic tensions in Iraq, stating, "The situation is currently tense in Kirkuk and the Turkmen cities of this province, including Tuz Khurmatu, and the Turkmen residents are preparing to confront Kurdish forces and have positioned themselves against the Kurdish Peshmerga on the hills surrounding Tuz Khurmatu." He added, "Masoud Barzani, the leader of the Kurdistan Democratic Party, is seeking control over Kirkuk's oil and the daily export of one million barrels from this region, and if the central government of Iraq gains control of Kirkuk, the issue of the referendum will effectively be nullified." Iran, Turkey, Syria, the United States, and the European Union have opposed the holding of the referendum in the Kurdistan Region and warned of its consequences. In this context, the UN Secretary-General emphasized the necessity of Iraq's "integrity." The Federal Supreme Court of Iraq issued an order to suspend the Kurdistan referendum, and Turkey conducted military maneuvers at the border with Iraqi Kurdistan. Rouhani stated that negotiations with friendly countries Turkey and Russia regarding Syria are ongoing. Masoud Barzani announced his conditions for suspending the referendum.