WATCH: Strong, independent Kurdistan US’ best ally in Middle East

WASHINGTON DC, United States (Kurdistan 24) – An independent Kurdistan can help the United States promote stability as well as suppress Iran’s influence in the Middle East, a US official recently said.

Peter Huessy, the President of GeoStrategic Analysis, a defense consulting firm, spoke to Kurdistan 24 about the US’ relationship with a future independent Kurdistan.

Senior officials in the Kurdistan Region have agreed to hold an independence referendum on Sep. 25, 2017.

The US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson recently spoke to the President of the Kurdistan Region Masoud Barzani over the phone asking him to postpone the referendum.

However, President Barzani remained firm regarding the Kurds’ decision to hold the vote.

While several countries, including the US, are opposed to the Region’s possible secession from Iraq, Huessy believes it would help foster peace in the Middle East.

According to Huessy, an independent Kurdistan would help the US shrink Iran’s influence in the region.

“I see a strong Kurdistan, as part of Iraq or independent, as very helpful in keeping Iran from having too much power [in the Middle East],” he said, pointing to Tehran’s nuclear activities.

“In that respect, Kurdistan could be very, very helpful to [the US],” Huessy added.

The US official said if the Kurds presented the benefits of an independent Kurdistan to the US, including being able to diminish Iran’s threat, then they would gain more support.

“It’s going to take some time, but I think Americans could eventually see the benefit of seeing a strong, independent, prosperous Kurdistan,” Huessy noted.

Kurdistan has been one of the US’ only allies in the Middle East and, unlike their regional neighbors, the Kurds don’t promote terror, he concluded.