Iran against separatist moves: Parliament speaker

'We consider Iraq a friendly neighbor country,' Ali Larijani said on Tuesday, adding that Iran has always supported various Iraqi groups, including Shias, Sunnis and Kurdish people, as we consider them our friends.

Since the creation of a democratic structure in Iraq, some countries in the world and the region have tried to support terrorist groups in the country, until the terrorist group Daesh (ISIS) emerged and took control of some cities of Iraq, he added.

When it happened, the Iraqi federal and Kurdistan governments asked Iran to help them fight Daesh, but it is sad that in a situation that the terrorism threat in Iraq is not over, the issue of Kurdistan independence is put forth, Larijani said, warning that the referendum will cause tension in Iraq.

Despite opposition by the Iraqi federal government and regional states, as well as international warnings, the independence referendum was held Monday in some northern Iraqi provinces, including Erbil, Sulaymaniyah, Duhok, and some disputed regions like Kirkuk.

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