![Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi [L] and Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei meet in Tehran on June 20, 2017. Photo: Tasnim News Agency](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fimages.rudaw.net%2Fs3%2Frudaw.net%2FContentFiles%2F310572Image1.jpg&w=3840&q=75)
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – The Supreme Leader of Iran Ayatollah Khamenei has told the Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi that Tehran is opposed to the planned Kurdish referendum for independence on September 25.
“The Islamic Republic of Iran as a neighbor [to Iraq] is opposed to some murmurs to holding referendum to separate part Iraq and considers those who call for this issue as opposed to the independence and identity of Iraq,” Iran’s Tasnim News Agency quoted Khamenei as saying on Tuesday evening.
This comes as Iran's President Hassan Rouhani who is considered to be moderate and seeks opening to the outside world took a similar line to the Supreme Leader when he earlier met with PM Abadi.
Khamenei met with Iraqi PM Abadi after he visited Tehran on Tuesday as part as his tour to neighboring countries that also includes Kuwait.
He was in Saudi Arabia on Monday where he met with King Salman.
Khamenei warned the Iraqi PM about the presence of the US forces in Iraq, and that the US must not be trusted.
“They [the United States] must not be given this opportunity,” he told Abadi as he referenced the lack of unity in Iraq that would give the US a chance to strike Iraq, adding “at the same time the entrance door to the arrival of American forces under the pretext of training and other issues must be closed.”
“Do not trust the Americans as they are seeking an opportunity to strike you,” Khamenei said.
He also told the Iraqi PM to be wary of the Americans, as the US and its allies are “opposed to “sovereignty, identity and unity of Iraq.”
Khamenei said that he the United States is against the mainly-Shiite Hashd al-Shaabi since it knows that these forces are the source of the power of the Iraqi authority.
President Rouhani met earlier in the day with PM Abadi, calling the binding Kurdish referendum "unacceptable"
“Geographical change, and division is unacceptable and is not in the interest of any of the countries in the region," the state run IRNA news agency quoted Rouhani as saying. "The Republic of Iran supports the territorial integrity of and a united Iraq. Any move to weaken the territorial integrity and the unity of Iraq is certainly not in the interests of anyone and is unacceptable.”
Photo from Tasnim News Agency shows PM Abadi in his meeting with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani
PM Abadi reaffirmed the territorial integrity of Iraq, IRNA reported, adding that any move that threatens it is “illegal” and “unacceptable.”
A readout of the meeting between Abadi and Rouhani released by the PM’s media office did not mention Abadi’s stance with regard to the Kurdish referendum.
It stated though that Rouhani “emphasized his country’s supportive stance to the unity [of Iraq], its security and stability.”
The Iraqi PM and Iranian President and the Supreme Leader emphasized strengthening their bilateral relations, including on trade and border crossings between the two sides, especially easing their travel regulations.
President Rouhani said that Iran wants “strong” relations with Baghdad that would cover all aspects.
He added that they consider Iraq’s success in their fight against “terrorists” and its security as their success and security.
Earlier this month five ISIS militants attacked the Iranian parliament and the shrine of the founder of the Islamic republic Ayatollah Khomeini killing 18 people. It was the first ISIS-claimed attack in the country since the group came to power about three years ago in Iraq and Syria.
Iran supports the Iraqi and Syrian governments and militia forces allied to them in their drive against ISIS, and in the case of Syria, those opposed to the regime.
PM Abadi and a senor ministerial delegation are to visit Kuwait after their one-day trip to Tehran.
On his visit to Saudi Arabi, the two countries agreed to establish a Coordination Council to help upgrade their bilateral relations to a "strategic level" that would include economic, security and political ties, a joint statement released on Tuesday read.
The statement also revealed that they have agreed to fight "extremism and terrorism" in any shape or form in the region.
Abadi's visit comes as a time that the relations between the Shiite-led Iran and the Sunni-led Saudi Arabi remain strained with both accusing one another of trying to undermine their security and stability.
Last updated at 11:11 p.m.
