Iranian MP: Barzani deceived into holding referendum

Mohammad Ebrahim Rezaei:

Barzani made a big mistake and was deceived into organizing the referendum. Although the Iraqi central government, Iran and Turkey had warned him against the consequences of the vote, he held the referendum. Barzani expected that the US and Europe would back his bid for secession, but his expectations did not come true.

Why didn’t the US and Europe support the Kurdish push for secession?

Since Europe was dealing with the independence referendum in Catalonia, it asked Barzani to delay the vote.

Nonetheless, he wanted to use what he considered a golden opportunity while the Iraqi Army was engaged in the battle against Daesh, to squeeze major concessions from Baghdad.

Consequently, the US and Europe refused to back the secession bid while Iran and Turkey exerted pressure on Erbil.

The Iraqi Army also captured Kirkuk and the territories the Peshmerga forces had seized in the battle against Daesh in 2014.

How did the Iraqi Army capture Kirkuk with almost no resistance from the Kurdish side?

The fact is that the Peshmerga forces refused to endanger their lives for Barzani. These forces were not loyal to him; that’s why the army took Kirkuk with almost no resistance.

What should the Iraqi forces do to preserve the country’s territorial integrity?

The central government should select provincial governors for the Kurdish region like the other provinces across Iraq. This is a good way for administrating the Kurdish region. The Kurds will have to comply with such a measure because divisions have grown among them and they have been left with no other option.

What’s your take on the capture of Raqqa by the Usbacked alliance of Arabs and Kurds?

The US was under the illusion that Syria would be torn apart amid the battle with the Daesh terror group. However, the Syrian Army foiled US plots.

Presently, the US seeks to strengthen Kurdish troops in Raqqa in a bid to undermine the clout of the Syrian Army. But, ultimately, such a strategy will fail.

What’s your take on the presence of Turkish troops in northern Syria?

Turkey is concerned about US support for Kurdish troops in northern Syria and considers such support a threat to the Eurasian nation’s security. Despite such concerns, however, Turkey cannot keep its forces in northern Syria for long and will have to withdraw from the region.