Iran slaps fuel trade embargo on Iraqi Kurdistan
Tehran and Baghdad plan joint drills over referendum
TEHRAN: Iran has embargoed exports and imports of fuel products to and from Iraqi Kurdistan in response to the region’s controversial independence referendum, Iranian media reported on Saturday.
All transport companies and drivers are ordered to stop carrying fuel products between Iran and Iraqi Kurdistan “until further notice” or face “consequences,” the state broadcaster’s website reported citing a transport ministry directive.
Iraqi Kurds overwhelmingly voted for independence in Monday’s non-binding referendum, which has sent regional tensions soaring.
Iran strongly opposes independence for the Iraqi Kurds, fearing it will provoke separatists among its own Kurdish population.
The Transport Ministry order, sent to various organizations and transportation associations, is dated Wednesday, according to a copy published by Tasnim news agency.
“Based on the recent regional developments and the order of the department of border and counter-strike affairs of the Interior Ministry, international transport companies and drivers should avoid loading and carrying fuel products to and/or from the Kurdistan region of Iraq until further notice,” the directive said.
Gas oil is one of Iran’s main exports to the autonomous Kurdistan region, which imported 110 million liters of it from Iran last year, state broadcaster IRIB said quoting figures from the National Oil Company.
Iran is one of the main exporters of fuel products to Kurdistan, IRIB said.
Total annual trade between the two stood at $5 billion, according to the broadcaster.
Tehran does not recognize the independence vote and has been increasing pressure on the Kurdistan region after the referendum.
It has since suspended all flights to and from Iraqi Kurdistan and warned that all border agreements will be nullified, although border crossings are still open.
In a separate development, an Iranian military official announced on Saturday that Iran will hold a joint military exercise with Iraq in response to the Iraqi Kurdistan region’s “illegitimate” independence referendum.
Iraq’s central government has demanded the annulment of the referendum, which resulted in a huge “yes” for independence.
“A joint military exercise between Iran’s armed forces and units from the Iraqi army will be held in the coming days along the shared border,” Iranian Armed Forces spokesman Masoud Jazayeri told reporters.
The drills will take place at several crossings on Iran’s border with Iraqi Kurdistan, he said, speaking after a high-level meeting of Iranian commanders.
“In the meeting, the territorial integrity and unity of Iraq and the illegitimacy of the independence referendum in northern Iraq were stressed again and necessary decisions were taken to provide security at the borders and welcome Iraq’s central government forces to take position at border crossings.”
Tehran has accepted a request by Baghdad for an Iraqi army presence at border crossings.
Iraqi soldiers on Tuesday also took part in a Turkish military drill close to the Iraqi frontier.
Meanwhile, Iraq’s military is preparing to take control of the international borders of the northern Kurdish region.
The preparations are part of the central government’s stepped-up efforts to isolate the Kurds following their vote.