Iraq division in line with Israel agenda: Iran

Iran has voiced support for solidarity and unity in neighboring Iraq, saying the idea of splitting the Arab country is in line with an Israeli agenda.

Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Marzieh Afkham said Saturday that the Iraqi nation will by no means submit to the disintegration of the country.

She added that the Iraqi constitution can meet the demands of the Iraqi nation, who seek to maintain solidarity in their country.

The Iraqi people will remain vigilant in the face of enemy plots against their country, the Iranian diplomat said.

“Undoubtedly the vigilant Iraqi people will not allow the Zionist regime and enemies of a unified Iraq to carry out their plots and realize their immature fantasies in the region,” Afkham noted.

In an interview with BBC on Tuesday, Masoud Barzani, the president of Iraq’s semi-autonomous Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), announced plans to hold a referendum on independence for the region.

Speaking in the Kurdish parliament in Erbil on Thursday, he urged the local parliament to set a date for a referendum.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has expressed support for the independence of the Kurdish region from Iraq.

Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki has, however, rejected the attempt by the KRG to hold the independence referendum, saying the move is unconstitutional and will “damage them a lot.”

The Iraqi premier has emphasized that the Kurdistan region is part of Iraq and must act within the boundaries of the country’s constitution.