Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian says the presence of terrorists in Iraqi Kurdistan region contravenes the Arab country’s constitution and is not compatible with cordial relations between Tehran and Baghdad.
Amir-Abdollahian made the statement in a meeting with Bafel Talabani, leader of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), in Tehran on Monday. The meeting came ahead of a deadline agreed by Iran and Iraq to disarm and relocate terror groups based in semi-autonomous Kurdistan region.
“The presence of terrorists in Kurdistan region and their moves against security of Iran are incompatible with Iraq’s constitution and friendly bilateral relations [because] no party should [be allowed to] harm security of Iraq’s neighbors,” Iran’s top diplomat said.
Amir-Abdollahian added that Iran is in favor of an “independent, prosperous, and developed” Iraq, noting that Tehran and Baghdad enjoy solid ties.
The Iranian minister also called for the speedy implementation of a security agreement concluded between the two sides. Under the agreement, the Iraqi government has promised to disarm terrorist and separatist groups based in Kurdistan region by September 19, vacate their military barracks there, and transfer them to the camps established by the Baghdad government.
