Iran News Round Up
The Iran News Round Up ran from February 2009-September 2018. Visit the Iran File for the latest analysis.
Key takeaway: Iranian officials rejected the results of the Iraqi Kurdish independence referendum.
Iranian officials predictably condemned Iraqi Kurdistan’s vote in favor of independence. Ayatollah Mohammad Mohammadi Golpayegani, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s chief of staff, and Ali Akbar Velayati, Khamenei’s senior foreign policy advisor, claimed that Israel instigated the referendum in order to provoke regional instability. Golpayegani also called the referendum a “catastrophe” and called on Iranian residents on the Iran-Iraq border to assist in neutralizing any problems that could arise from the referendum. Golpayegani’s statement underscores the regime’s fears of the possible impact the referendum could have on Iran’s Kurdish population.
This Iran News Round Up predominantly covers events from September 26-27.
The Moscow-Tehran Axis is a Coalition of the Weak.
Frederick Kagan discusses the inherent weaknesses in the Russo-Iranian alliance in, “The Moscow-Tehran Axis is a Coalition of the Weak.”
Citations & Links
Golpayegani calls the Iraqi Kurdistan referendum a “catastrophe.”
Chief of Staff for the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mohammad Mohammadi Golpayegani called the Iraqi Kurdistan referendum a “catastrophe.” Golpayegani also expressed hope that border residents, especially those in West Azerbaijan Province, would help in neutralizing any problems that could arise from the referendum. Golpayegani emphasized Iranian support for Iraq’s territorial integrity and also noted that “Iraq is a country for our Imams,” referring to the many religious Shia leaders housed in Iraq. He also said that the Iraqi Kurdistan referendum was a “Zionist plot” to capitalize on the fact that ISIS is nearing its end. (Mehr News Agency)
Velayati: Iran is dedicated to preserving Iraq’s territorial integrity.
Senior Foreign Policy Advisor to the Supreme Leader Ali Akbar Velayati reaffirmed Iran’s commitment to preserving the territorial integrity and unity of Iraq, Syria, and other regional countries following Iraqi Kurdistan’s independence referendum on September 25. Velayati accused Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) President Massoud Barzani of seeking to divide Muslims on behalf of Israel. Iraqi Kurdistan conducted a referendum on September 25 and Iraqi Kurds overwhelmingly voted in favor of independence. (IRIB News) (Reuters) (E)
- Defense minister meets Turkish ambassador in Tehran. Defense Minister Artesh Brig. Gen. Amir Hatami met with Turkey’s Ambassador to Iran Reza Hakan Takin in Tehran on September 26. Iran and Turkey have had several high-level military discussions over the last two months ahead of the referendum, including a meeting between Armed Forces General Staff Chief IRGC Maj. Gen. Mohammad Bagheri and Turkish General Huluski Akar on September 14. (Sepah News)
Iranian Kurds gather to celebrate Iraqi Kurdistan referendum.
Thousands of Iranian Kurds celebrated Iraqi Kurdistan’s referendum in several cities throughout Kurdistan and West Azerbaijan Provinces, including Sanandaj, Baneh, Saghez, and Mahabad. Iranian state media provided scant coverage of the gatherings. IRIB’s Kurdestan service described the gatherings as “calm” and that Iranian Kurds had gathered in order to “congratulate their fellow Kurdish speakers in Iraqi Kurdistan on the referendum.” Neither Iranian nor Western press reported any violence or clashes between Iranian Kurds and security forces during the gatherings. Iran has announced its opposition to the Iraqi Kurdistan referendum and has also conducted military exercises in West Azerbaijan and Kermanshah Provinces, both of which have large Kurdish populations. (Instagram) (Radio Farda) (IRIB)
Citations & Links
1.
Mehr News Agency
http://www.mehrnews.com/news/4098429/%D9%87%D9%85%D9%87-%D9%BE%D8%B1%D8%B3%DB%8C-%DA%A9%D8%B1%D8%AF%D8%B3%D8%AA%D8%A7%D9%86-%D8%AA%D9%88%D8%B7%D8%A6%D9%87-%D8%A7%DB%8C-%D8%A7%D8%B2-%D8%B3%D9%88%DB%8C-%D8%B1%DA%98%DB%8C%D9%85-%D8%B5%D9%87%DB%8C%D9%88%D9%86%DB%8C%D8%B3%D8%AA%DB%8C-%D8%A7%D8%B3%D8%AA
Citations & Links
1.
IRIB News
http://www.iribnews.ir/fa/news/1824268/%D8%A2%D8%B4%D9%81%D8%AA%DA%AF%DB%8C-%D8%B3%DB%8C%D8%A7%D8%B3%DB%8C-%D8%AA%D9%86%D9%87%D8%A7-%D9%86%D8%AA%DB%8C%D8%AC%D9%87-%D9%87%D9%85%D9%87-%D9%BE%D8%B1%D8%B3%DB%8C-%D9%85%D9%86%D8%B7%D9%82%D9%87-%DA%A9%D8%B1%D8%AF%D8%B3%D8%AA%D8%A7%D9%86-%D8%B9%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%82
2.
Reuters
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-kurds-referendum/baghdad-piles-pressure-on-iraqi-kurds-to-reverse-independence-vote-idUSKCN1C1127
3.
Sepah News
http://www.sepahnews.com/index.php/sepahnews/item/4469
Citations & Links
1.
Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/p/BZeLEFBjQsO/
2.
Radio Farda
https://www.radiofarda.com/a/iran-people-gather-supporting-kurdistan-referendum-sanandaj/28758044.html
3.
IRIB
http://kurdistan.iribnews.ir/fa/news/1823325/%D9%88%D8%A7%DA%A9%D9%86%D8%B4-%D9%85%D8%B1%D8%AF%D9%85-%D8%A8%D8%B1%D8%AE%DB%8C-%D9%85%D9%86%D8%A7%D8%B7%D9%82-%D8%A7%D8%B3%D8%AA%D8%A7%D9%86-%DA%A9%D8%B1%D8%AF%D8%B3%D8%AA%D8%A7%D9%86-%D8%A8%D9%87-%D8%A8%D8%B1%DA%AF%D8%B2%D8%A7%D8%B1%DB%8C-%D9%87%D9%85%D9%87-%D9%BE%D8%B1%D8%B3%DB%8C
Artesh deploys missile defense systems to western Iran.
Khatam ol Anbia Air Defense Headquarters Operations Deputy Brig. Gen. 2C Alireza Elhami announced that the Khatam ol Anbia Air Defense Headquarters has deployed “new missile defense systems” to “western Iran.” Elhami did not specify the kind of missile systems or where exactly they will be deployed. The Khatam ol Anbia Air Defense western command is located in Hamedan Province, and spans Kurdistan Province, among other areas. (Fars News Agency)
Citations & Links
1.
Fars News Agency
http://www.farsnews.com/13960704001191
Iran to construct oil refinery in Homs, Syria.
The head of downstream technologies at Iran’s Research Institute of the Petroleum Industry (RIPI) Akbar Zamanian stated that Iran plans to construct an oil refinery near the city of Homs, Syria. Zamanian reported the refinery will have a production capacity of 140,000 barrels per day. The construction will be a joint project between Iran, Venezuela, and Syria and will expand on Iran’s efforts to deepen economic relations with Syria. Iranian companies will be building five new power stations in Latakia Province and five power plants in the city of Aleppo. (Fars News Agency) (Reuters) (E)
Citations & Links
1.
Fars News Agency
http://www.farsnews.com/newstext.php?nn=13960704001106
2.
Reuters
https://af.reuters.com/article/africaTech/idAFL8N1M747A
