Kurdistan Referendum to Exacerbate Iraq’s Problems: Iran

The Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman says a referendum on the independence of the Iraqi Kurdistan region will just create more problems for the Arab country in a time when it needs peace and stability more than ever.

Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bahram Qassemi made the statements in response to Iraqi Kurdistan Regional Government’s decision to hold independence referendum on September 25.

A unified, stable and democratic Iraq guarantees the interests of all people from all ethnic and religious groups, Qassemi added.

Referring to the complicated situation in Iraq and the region, the Iranian official said, “Kurdistan Region is part of the Republic of Iraq and any unilateral decisions that are not within the legal and national framework of the country’s laws, especially its constitution, could just create more problems in the country while the ill-wishers are planning for continuation of instability.”

“Today, Iraq is more than ever in need of peace and national reconciliation and the disputes between Baghdad and Erbil must be resolved through dialogue and national reconciliation in accordance with the Iraqi constitution,” the Iranian spokesperson said.

Last month Kurdish parties announced a plan to hold a referendum on independence in September, but Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi has stressed that the country’s territorial integrity must be preserved.

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