Iraq Calls on Iran, Turkey to Halt Trading with Kurdistan Region

Alsumaria TV has announced that the Iraqi Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in a formal note, has asked Iran and Turkey to close their border crossings with the Kurdistan region and stop business deals with Erbil.

Iraqi Foreign Ministry spokesman Ahmad Mahjoub said in a statement that the official letter was sent to the Iranian and Turkish embassies in Baghdad. He also called on the two friendly countries to close the border crossings until the Iraqi central government takes control of them.

Mahjoub has called for more interaction of Iran and Turkey with the Iraqi federal government based on the good neighbourliness principle and respect for national sovereignty, as well as strengthening mutual cooperation to cope with common threats, a Farsi report by Fars News Agency said.

Iraq’s punitive measures against the Kurdistan region began after Erbil officials held an illegal referendum in the Kurdistan region in late September despite regional and global opposition to the plebiscite on the separation of Iraqi Kurdistan from the central government.

The Iraqi federal government has urged Erbil to hand over all border crossings and airports in Kurdistan to Baghdad. Erbil, however, has rejected Baghdad’s request.