Iran reacts to Barzani’s article on Independence

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan24) – Iranian Foreign Ministry commented on an article written by the Kurdistan Region Security Council (KRSC) Chancellor calling for an “amicable divorce” from Iraq.

Hossein Jabari Ansary, the Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson, announced in a press conference on Sunday that a united Iraq will preserve the interests of people in Iraq and the neighboring countries.

Ansary stated that the primary threat to Iraq now is the risk of confronting terror and extremism. “I hope Iraq’s officials and political elites understand the status quo and continue their talks to protect the unity of Iraq and succeed over terrorists,” he said.

Iran has an estimated population of 10 million Kurds who are politically, economically and linguistically oppressed.

Iran is intimidated by the Kurdistan Region’s prospect of independence and is worried that its Kurds will aspire to follow their cousins' steps in asking for greater rights.

Kurds who are a minority in Iran, make up the majority of the political prisoners in the country, activists say. 

Ansary’s response came after a question was asked by a journalist during a press conference. The reporter referred to the KRSC Chancellor Masrour Barzani’s article published in The Washington Post titled “Kurdistan deserves an amicable divorce from Baghdad.”

“Iraq is a conceptual failure, compelling peoples with little in common to share an uncertain future. It is time to acknowledge that the experiment has not worked. Iraq is a failed state, and our continued presence within it condemns us all to unending conflict and enmity,” Barzani said in the article.

He mentions that instability has now surrounded the people of Iraq, including the Kurdistan Region. “Eleven years after the tyranny of Saddam Hussein ended, Iraq was exposed for what it is: a country that cannot protect its people and can barely define its interests.”

In another part of the analysis, Barzani mentions that agreements with Baghdad get signed but almost never get enacted by Iraqi officials. “Promises and obligations get ignored [where] many of them are constitutional,” he stated.

“There is simply no trust between [Kurds] and the central government [of Iraq]. The relationship is irreconcilable,” Barzani added.

“We have tried everything possible with the central government, and nothing has worked. A separation is the only option remaining,” Barzani continued. “We want to move ahead with a vote on independence, but we must first work with Baghdad to pave the way for an amicable split that secures our mutual interests.”

Reporting by Baxtiyar Goran
Editing by Ava Homa and Karzan Sulaivany