(MENAFN- Gulf Times) The presidents of Iran and Turkey vowed during talks in Tehran yesterday to work closely together to prevent the disintegration of Iraq and Syria and to oppose the Iraqi Kurds' drive for independence.
Iran and Turkey, a Nato member, have traditionally had cool relations but both have been alarmed by the Iraqi Kurds' vote for independence in a Sept 25 referendum.
'We want security and stability in the Middle East...The independence referendum in Iraq's Kurdistan is a sectarian plot by foreign countries and is rejected by Tehran and Ankara, Iran's President Hassan Rouhani said, according to state TV.
'We will not accept a change of borders under any circumstances. Iran and Turkey have already threatened to join Baghdad in imposing economic sanctions on Iraqi Kurdistan and have launched joint military exercises with Iraqi troops on their borders with the separatist region.
Turkey's President Tayyip Erdogan, who is on a one-day trip to Tehran that will also include talks with Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, said Ankara was considering taking further measures against Iraqi Kurdistan.
'We have already said we don't recognise the referendum in northern Iraq... We have taken some measures already with Iran and the Iraqi central government, but stronger steps will be taken, he said. Iraq's autonomous Kurdistan region announced on Tuesday it was calling presidential and parliamentary elections for Nov 1. Baghdad has responded with further punitive measures.
Iraq's central government, its neighbours and Western powers fear the vote in favour of secession could spark another, wider conflict in the Middle East region to add to the war in Syria, and fear it could derail the fight against Islamic State.
Erdogan repeated in Tehran his accusation that Israel was behind the Iraqi Kurds' referendum.'There is no country other than Israel that recognises it. A referendum which was conducted by sitting side by side with Mossad has no legitimacy, he said, referring to the Israeli intelligence agency.
Israel has denied Turkey's previous claims of involvement in the vote, but has welcomed the Kurds' vote for independence. Rouhani also said yesterday that Tehran and Ankara planned to expand their economic ties.
'Turkey will import more gas from Iran...Meetings will be held next week to discuss the details, he said.
MENAFN0410201700670000ID1095921514
Legal Disclaimer:
MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.