Iran's Opposition to the Independence Referendum in the Kurdistan Region

The spokesperson for Iran's Foreign Ministry described the decision to hold an independence referendum in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq as an action "outside national and legal norms, especially the Iraqi Constitution" and stated that this action "in the current complex conditions" would "only exacerbate new problems" in the country. According to the official news agency of the Islamic Republic, IRNA, Bahram Qasemi, the spokesperson for the Foreign Ministry, said on Saturday, June 10, that the "principled position" of the Islamic Republic of Iran is to support the "territorial integrity and unity of Iraq." He announced that the Kurdistan Region is part of Iraq and that disputes between Erbil and Baghdad should be resolved "within the framework of dialogue and national understanding and in accordance with the Constitution" of the country. Mr. Qasemi emphasized that "unilateral decisions outside of national and legal norms, especially the Iraqi Constitution, particularly in the complex conditions of Iraq and the region... will only lead to the creation of new problems in this country." The spokesperson for the Iranian Foreign Ministry also stated that a "unified, stable, and democratic Iraq" guarantees the interests of all the people of this country from all ethnicities and religions. In addition to the central government of Iraq and Iran, Turkey and Syria are also opposed to the independence of Iraqi Kurdistan. According to some analysts, these countries are concerned that if Kurdistan in Iraq gains independence, Kurds in these countries may also seek independence. Masoud Barzani, the head of the Kurdistan Regional Government, announced on Wednesday, June 7, that the independence referendum in this region will be held on September 25 of this year (October 3). Reports indicate that the referendum ballot will ask voters: Do you want the independence of Kurdistan? Hoshyar Zebari, a former Iraqi foreign minister and a senior official in Kurdistan, had previously told Reuters that a "yes" vote in this referendum would strengthen the Kurdistan Regional Government's position in negotiations with the central government for autonomy. Hemen Hoorami, an advisor to Masoud Barzani, also announced that this referendum will be held in disputed areas with the central government, namely Kirkuk, Khanqin, Makhmour, and Sinjar. Kirkuk is an oil-rich region and has been a point of contention between the central government and the Kurdistan Region for years. The demographic composition of Kirkuk includes Kurds, Arabs, Turkmen, and Assyrian minorities. The Iraqi parliament opposed the installation of the Kurdistan Region's flag in Kirkuk on April 1. Turkey also opposed the installation of the Kurdistan Region's flag in Kirkuk. In this regard, Iran opposed the installation of the Kurdistan Region's flag in the city of Kirkuk.