Erdogan points out Mossad's role in northern Iraq poll

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan pointed out the role of Israeli intelligence agency Mossad in the recently-held illegitimate referendum in northern Iraq.

Speaking at a joint news conference with his Iranian counterpart Hassan Rouhani in capital Tehran, Erdogan said: “What is the referendum organized by northern Iraq’s regional administration for? No country in the world apart from Israel recognizes it.

“A decision made at the table with Mossad is not legitimate, it is illegitimate.”

On 25 September, Iraqis in Kurdish Regional Government (KRG)-held areas — and in several areas disputed between Baghdad and Erbil — voted on whether to declare independence from Iraq.

According to results announced by the KRG, almost 93 percent of registered voters cast ballots in favour of independence.

Read: Erdogan slams Kurdish referendum as ‘betrayal’

The illegal referendum continues to face sharp opposition from most regional and international actors, many of whom warn that the poll would distract from Iraq’s ongoing fight against terrorism and further destabilize the already-volatile region.

The Turkish president said Iraq was the primary topic of discussion during his meeting with Rouhani.

“We have stated that Turkey does not recognize the northern Iraq regional administration’s illegitimate referendum.

“I believe that northern Iraq’s local administration will be condemned to isolation by siding with a certain figure on one end and another figure on the other, and then taking action with those certain figures.”

He reiterated Turkey’s position that it would continue to engage with the central government in Baghdad.

“Turkey and Iran’s determination on the matter is evident. Turkey will only engage with the central government in Iraq and we certainly term this referendum as illegitimate,” he said.

“As you know, there are steps we, both Turkey and Iran, have taken on the matter. But there are more severe steps we will take in the upcoming period.”

Rouhani saw the poll in northern Iraq as an attempt by “some foreigners” to create sectarian and ethnic strife.

Read: Why the Kurdish referendum means the end of Iraq

“Some foreigners plan to split the area to increase ethnic and sectarian discrimination. Both countries do not accept such acts of discrimination,” he said.

“Whatever name they give to it, we will fight against terrorism. The terrorists should know that we will not allow their brutal acts.”

About efforts to resolve the conflict in Syria, Erdogan said: “There is a process framed for Syria through [talks in Kazakh capital] Astana together with Iran, Russia and Turkey. Here we strongly emphasize on the de-conflict zone.

The Astana talks are being brokered by Turkey, which backs the Syrian opposition, along with Russia and Iran, both of which support the Assad regime.

The three guarantor states, as well as representatives of the Damascus-based Bashar al-Assad regime and some opposition factions, met in Astana in September for a sixth round of talks aimed at ending the six-year conflict.