Iran's Consulate in Erbil Condemns Attack on Its Premises

Following reports of an attack on the Iranian consulate in Erbil and the removal of the Islamic Republic's flag, the consulate issued a statement condemning this "assault." According to ISNA news agency, the Iranian consulate in Erbil stated that a group of individuals, on Friday, October 20, "under the influence of political motives," "attacked" the representation of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Erbil. The consulate condemned this action and called for the authorities of the region to fulfill their duties in "preserving and protecting diplomatic representation." The statement also expressed gratitude to political figures, tribal leaders, parliament representatives, and other political personalities who condemned this act. Based on videos released from the incident, a group of individuals entered the Iranian consulate in Erbil and removed the Islamic Republic's flag. While the authorities of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq have yet to respond to this action, Ahmad Mahjoob, the spokesperson for the Iraqi Foreign Ministry, called it "premeditated" and condemned it. Prior to this incident, some commanders of the Peshmerga forces had accused the Islamic Republic of supporting Iraqi forces to capture Kirkuk. Among them, before the capture of Kirkuk by Iraqi forces, the security apparatus of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq and a Peshmerga commander announced that several members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps were present among the Iraqi army and Shiite militia Hashd al-Shaabi to potentially confront the forces of the Kurdistan Region near Kirkuk. Following this, several analysts and regional experts also spoke to Radio Farda about the "coordination" among some Kurdish political factions, the Iraqi government, and Iran's "mediation" during the retreat from Kirkuk. Meanwhile, Reuters and the Associated Press reported that Qassem Soleimani, the commander of the Quds Force of the IRGC, met with leaders of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan in Sulaymaniyah at least three times, warning them to either leave Kirkuk or lose Tehran's support. However, the Iranian consulate in Erbil claimed neutrality in the dispute between the Iraqi government and the Kurdistan Region on Thursday, October 26. One day after the capture of the city of Kirkuk by the Iraqi army and Hashd al-Shaabi militias, Ali Akbar Velayati, advisor to the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic on international affairs, denied any role or presence of the IRGC in this operation.