Iran denies having missile base in Kurdistan Region
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan24) – Iran’s military and security cooperation with the Kurdistan Region are clear, and there is no truth that an Iranian missile base exists in the Kurdistan Region, said an Iranian official on Sunday.
On May 28, London-based Al-Sharq al-Awsat newspaper stated in a report that Iran is planning to “establish the biggest missile base in the mountain areas near the Chemchemal city in Sulaimani Province on the Kurdistan Region-Iran border.”
The Iranian Consulate General in the province of Sulaimani, Kurdistan Region, Saadullah Masudian, told Kurdistan24 that there is no such plan to establish a missile base in the Region.
“We reject these rumors. Kurdistan Region officials also strongly rejected the baseless rumor,” Masudian said.
“There are no missile bases in the Kurdistan Region. Military and security cooperation between Kurdistan and Iran is clear,” he stated.
Masudian noted that Iran’s presence in any part of the Kurdistan Region was in a legal and just way. He added that Iran would never commit an “unacceptable” act of building a missile base in Kurdistan.
“There is nothing secret or hidden in the cooperation between the Kurdistan Region and Iran,” the Iranian consulate emphasized.
Additionally, Masudian talked about the Kurdish referendum for independence planned to be held in 2016. “The future of each nation is in their hands, we shouldn’t let any foreign power or countries have impacts on the decision of a nation,” he stated with a straight face. The irony was lost on him.
Masudian highlighted the military advisory role of Iran in Syria. “Our participation in Syria as a military adviser is only to prevent other people [foreign countries] in determining the future of Syria on behalf of Syrians,” he said.
Masudian continued, “It is the people of Syria that have to decide on their future, not others.”
Commenting on the Kurdistan Region, he mentioned that Iran shares the same belief toward the Kurds in Iraq.
“Referendum and expressing opinions are natural rights of all peoples and nations. Why should we [Iran] say that we are against it,” Masudian added.
Reporting by Mewan Dolamari
Editing by Karzan Sulaivany and Ava Homa