IRGC Official Warns of Serious Regional Challenges after Iraqi Kurdistan Referendum

Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Deputy Commander for political affairs Brigadier General Rasoul Sanayee Rad warned that the referendum for independence in the Iraqi Kurdistan region will lead to serious regional problems. “Holding a referendum under the conditions that we are moving to the post-ISIL era can pave the ground for serious regional challenges for Iraq and other neighboring states”, General Sanayee Rad said on Tuesday. Referring to the Iraqi government and parliament’s opposition to the referendum, he said President of the Iraqi Kurdistan region Massoud Barzani has dissolved the parliament in the region in the past few years and ruled the region via ethnic and family ties and his plan to hold a referendum rather than benefiting the Kurdish people is a personal move for family gains. “In addition to the Iraqi officials and people and the neighboring states, the European countries are also opposed to the referendum plan after experiencing insecurities in Europe”, General Sanayee Rad said.