Ankara and Tehran, in coordination with Baghdad, are closely following current events in northern Iraq, Iraqi Ambassador to Iran Rajih al-Moussawi said Tuesday.
Speaking at a press conference in the Iraqi embassy in Tehran, Moussawi confirmed that Tehran and Ankara are 鈥渃oordinating closely with Baghdad鈥�.
鈥淚ran has shut its three main border crossings with [areas held by northern Iraq鈥檚] Kurdish Regional Government (KRG),鈥� Moussawi said, referring to the Haji Omaran, Parwezkhan and Bashmaq crossings.
鈥淭his has been confirmed by the Iranian ambassador to Iraq,鈥� he added.
Noting that Baghdad was tightening its grip on Iraq鈥檚 national energy exports, Moussawi said 鈥渁ll of the country鈥檚 border crossings and airports鈥� would henceforth be controlled exclusively by the central government.
鈥淎ll unofficial border gates will be shut,鈥� he said.
The ambassador made the assertions amid mounting tensions between Baghdad and the KRG -- tensions caused by the latter鈥檚 Sept. 25 referendum on Kurdish regional independence.
The illegitimate referendum had faced strong opposition from most regional and international actors (including the U.S., Turkey and Iran), who warned that the poll would distract from Iraq鈥檚 fight against terrorism and further destabilize the region.
Late Monday, Iraqi government forces announced that they had taken control of the oil-rich city of Kirkuk, which has long been the subject of dispute between Baghdad and the Erbil-based KRG.
By Mustafa Melih Ahishali in Tehran
Ali Murat Alhas contributed to this report from Ankara.
Anadolu Agency
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