Iran Urges Iraqi Kurdish Leaders to Fix Mistakes

Speaking at a joint press conference with his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyib Erdogan in Tehran, President Rouhani reiterated Iran and Turkey’s opposition to any secessionist move in the region.

The Iraqi Kurdistan Region is a “good friend and brother” of Iran, and Tehran does not intend to put pressure on the Iraqi Kurdish people, but certain KRG leaders need to make up for the wrong decisions they have made, the Iranian president added.

Iran, Turkey and Iraq will have to achieve their “strategic objectives” in the region by taking “serious and necessary” measures, he added.

Pointing to the extensive talks he had held with the Turkish president about the Iraqi Kurdistan Region before the press conference, Rouhani said Tehran and Ankara are opposed to secessionist moves and to the escalation of sectarian and religious conflicts masterminded by outsiders.

Iran and Turkey maintain that Iraq and Syria must each remain a unified country, he added.

As regards the bilateral ties between Iran and Turkey, President Rouhani said the two governments are resolved to raise the value of annual trade exchange to $30 billion.

It has been decided that Turkey import more gas, the president said, adding that Iran would also embrace Turkish investment in the gas industry.

According to Rouhani, the two sides have also come up with plans to keep their three joint border crossings open around the clock as part of efforts to boost the transit of commodities.

Heading a high-ranking delegation, Erdogan arrived in Tehran on Wednesday morning to attend the fourth round of strategic meetings between Iran and Turkey and to discuss the latest regional developments and the status of bilateral ties with Iranian officials.

Iran and Turkey signed four agreements on Wednesday to promote cooperation in various areas.