The Middle East - 10/07/2017

Iraq asks Iran and Turkey to shut their borders with Kurdish regions of northern Iraq

Iraq, Iran and Turkey continue to cooperate against secessionists.

The Duran,

7 October, 2017

ANKARA (Sputnik) – Iraqi Foreign Ministry has called on Ankara and Tehran to close checkpoints at the border with Kurdish regions of Iraq, media reported Saturday citing the spokesman of the ministry, Ahmed Mahjoub.

The spokesman said that Baghdad had sent an official request to Ankara and Tehran urging them, in addition to the request to close borders, to limit oil trading operation with the region that seeks independence from Iraq, the Anadolu news agency reported.

On September 25, more than 90 percent of voters taking part in the referendum in Kurdish regions of Iraq backed the region’s independence from Baghdad. Iraqi authorities declared the referendum illegal, while Turkey and Iran criticized the referendum amid fears it might strengthen separatist feelings in their own ethnic Kurdish minorities.

Ankara also suspended flights to Kurdish regions of Iraq and halted the broadcasting of a number of the autonomous region’s television channels in the country, while Turkish and Iraqi military forces launched joint military exercise at the border.

Tehran tells Trump benefits of nuke deal ‘irreversible’

Iran's President Hassan Rouhani has defended the 2015 nuclear deal it signed with the UN Security Council, saying not even US President Donald Trump can roll back the benefits to his country.