On his visit to Tehran, Turkish President Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan met with Ayatollah Khamenei.

During the meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his entourage Wednesday, Ayatollah Khamenei stressed the need for increased economic cooperation between the two countries, KHAMENEI.IR website reported.

The Leader also considered an agreement and cooperation between Iran and Turkey, on major issues of the Islamic world, extremely important and influential. Referring to the interests of the United States and the Zionist regime in organizing a referendum in Iraqi Kurdistan, his eminence reminded them, “The United States and foreign powers are unreliable and seek to create a ‘new Israel’ in the region.”

He emphasized the need to expand on economic cooperation between the two countries, adding: “Unfortunately, despite the many capacities, the level of economic cooperation in recent years has not made any progress, increased efforts are needed in this regards.”

The Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution expressed his gratitude for the cooperation between Iran and Turkey at the Astana summit; furthermore, mentioning the improved situation in Syria as a result of cooperation;–wherein, he noted, “The issue of Daesh and Takfiris will not end this way (without cooperation); solving this problem requires a long-term and realistic plan.”

Additionally, he stated that the referendum in Iraqi Kurdistan is a betrayal to the region and a threat to its future. Ayatollah Khamenei then pointed out the negative long-term consequences of the referendum for neighbors, emphasizing, “Iran and Turkey should take every possible step in confronting this (referendum); and, the Iraqi government must also seriously decide on it and act.”

Ayatollah Khamenei considered cooperation, consultation, and serious political and economic decision making between Iran and Turkey, while addressing these issues to be extremely important, pointing out: The US and European governments look at this issue from a completely different point of view, compared to that of Iran and Turkey. The United States wants to maintain an everlasting and disruptive agent against Iran and Turkey; therefore, Americans and Europeans, and their positions cannot be trusted in any way.

Ayatollah Khamenei, addressed the Turkish President, stating, “As you pointed out the recent events primarily benefit the Zionist regime, secondly, they benefit the US government.”

Referring to the enemy’s efforts to distract Iran and Turkey and to divert the two countries from the important issues of the region, the Leader of the Islamic Revolution added, “The foreign powers, especially the Zionist regime, are seeking to create a ‘new Israel’ in the region and create a means for dispute and division.”

His eminence stressed, “With a long-term and strategic vision toward the recent issues, serious and rapid decisions must be taken, and the issues must be encountered by a single action.”

Speaking at a joint press conference with his Iranian counterpart, Hassan Rouhani, in Tehran on Wednesday, Erdogan pointed to the latest developments in the region, including the independence vote held last Monday in the Iraqi Kurdistan and said Tehran and Ankara do not recognize the referendum.

“Currently, no country in the world supports the Iraqi Kurdistan Region’ independence except Israel,” the Turkish president said.

“In our opinion, a decision taken by sitting down at the (negotiating) table with Mossad is illegitimate and unacceptable,” he said, adding that Iran and Turkey have declared their firm stance on the issue.

He also said Tehran, Ankara, and Baghdad will take stricter measures to prevent the negative effects of the referendum.

The Iraqi Kurdistan Region went ahead with its plan to hold the referendum on September 25 although Iraq’s neighbors and countries in the Middle East, including Iran and Turkey, had voiced opposition to such a move and supported the Baghdad central government.

Thousands of Kurdish people in favor of KRG’s secession from Iraq took to the streets in Erbil that night, with some waving Israeli flags to celebrate.

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was the only leader in the region to endorse the referendum, while all neighbors have warned that the secession plan would bring instability to the region and disintegrate Iraq.

Holding an independence referendum within a sovereign state like Iraq will be a prelude to disintegration, Velayati said, reiterating the Iraqi government, Iran and the international community’s opposition to such a referendum.

The top adviser to Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei also said that such separatist moves could spill over to other countries and pave the way for the Zionists and Israelis’ infiltration into Iraq.

He also stressed that Washington’s real intents differ from its apparent stances, saying Washington seeks to weaken regional countries and steer the region toward disintegration.

The US’s ultimate purpose is to play the role of a supporter for various ethnic groups and plunge the entire region into chaos, Velayati warned.

He finally slammed the Iraqi Kurdish region’s plan for referendum as a threat to ethnic groups, saying it will result in the partitioning of countries, although it is purported to be for independence.

Authorities in Iraq’s Kurdish region have announced that the northern territory will hold the independence referendum on September 25.

On Monday, Iraq’s top court ordered the suspension of the Kurdistan Regional Government’s (KRG) referendum on independence.

The Supreme Court’s ruling calls for all preparations for the planned vote to be halted, following a review of multiple “requests to stop the referendum”.

The Baghdad government and several other countries, including Iran and Turkey, have opposed the referendum.