US: Ready to Mediate Between Baghdad and Iraqi Kurdistan if Requested

On Thursday, October 6, the spokesperson for the US State Department stated that Washington is prepared to facilitate negotiations between Baghdad and the Iraqi Kurds if requested. According to Reuters, Heather Nauert, the spokesperson, emphasized in her press conference that the United States does not wish to take any actions that would escalate tensions. Reports also indicate that in response to a question regarding military cooperation between Iran and Iraq, she stated: 'We oppose any form of violence.' Nauert further clarified: 'We are friends of the Kurds. We are also friends with the central government of Iraq and desire a stable and unified Iraq.' In response to a question about requests for the US to close its consulate in Erbil, she mentioned that she had not heard of such a request but reiterated that, from their perspective, their relationship with the Kurds would not change. The independence referendum in Iraqi Kurdistan was held on Monday with a participation rate of 72% of eligible voters, and over 92% of participants supported independence. The Iraqi government and parliament opposed the referendum, declaring it 'illegal' under the country's constitution. The central government has now begun punitive measures against the Kurdistan region. Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi has given the Kurdistan government until Friday to hand over control of Erbil and Sulaymaniyah airports to the central government. The director of Erbil Airport, the center of the Kurdistan region, announced that from the evening of Friday, October 7, all international flights to and from this airport will be canceled. Al-Abadi stated in parliament that there would be no discussions with the Kurdistan region regarding the referendum results; if they want to negotiate, the Kurdistan region must annul the referendum and its results. Meanwhile, the Iraqi Foreign Ministry announced on Thursday that the United Nations has proposed to mediate to resolve the crisis between Baghdad and the Kurdistan region over the independence referendum. According to Reuters, Jan Kubis, the head of the UN mission in Iraq, made this proposal during a meeting with Ibrahim al-Jaafari, the Iraqi Foreign Minister. Previously, the US had opposed the holding of the independence referendum in Iraqi Kurdistan, stating that it would lead to further instability in the region.