TEHRAN (Iran News) –In comments at a joint press conference with Prime Minister of Iraqi Kurdistan Region Masrour Barzani, held in Erbil on Friday, Ali Baqeri said Iran and its “friends in Iraq and the KRG” believe that regional stability and security hinges on bilateral and multilateral cooperation.

Pointing to the “bright prospect” for economic cooperation between Iran and the Kurdistan Region, Baqeri described economic interaction as prerequisite for regional stability.

He said the talks with the KRG prime minister have revolved around the removal of obstacles to cooperation between Tehran and Erbil.

Highlighting the brotherly and deep-rooted relations between the two neighbors, the caretaker foreign minister said such inseparable bonds have contributed to stability and calm in the region.

He also warned against the hostile attempts at disrupting regional peace and stability, noting that the vigilance of the Iranian and Iraqi officials will foil the enemies’ plots.

For his part, Barzani said discussions have been held on the region’s security problems and the ways to strengthen its political stability.

He also hailed the “very good meeting” on the promotion of economic relations between the Kurdistan Region and Iran.

In a meeting with President of the Iraqi Kurdistan Region Nechervan Barzani in Tehran on May 6, Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei highlighted the strong bonds between Iran and the Kurdish communities.

Highlighting the close bonds between the people of Iran and the Kurds, the Leader said, “We consider the relations between us and the Kurdish community –be it in Iran or in Iraq- to be closer than those with any other nation.”

TEHRAN (Iran News) –Iran’s relations with the Kurdistan Region of Iraq are based on historical, national, religious and cultural ties, Raisi said in a meeting with KRG President Nechervan Barzani, held in Tehran on Monday.

Expressing hope that the trip would be a turning point in improving the political, security, economic and cultural relations between Tehran and Erbil, Raisi said Iran has always favored a strong Iraq and the strengthening of unity and cohesion within the framework of a united Iraq.

“Iran’s support for the Kurds, whether during the Saddam regime, the Halabja massacre, or the ISIS attack, proves that Iran is a great support and friend in the difficult days of Iraq and Kurdistan,” he added.

Raisi noted that the government and people of Iran regard the security of Iraq as their own security, adding, “We are confident in the goodwill and friendship of our Iraqi and Kurdish brothers, but considering the hatred of the enemies, including the Zionist regime, against the Iranian nation, we expect the government of Iraq and the Kurdistan region to absolutely prevent any abuse of the soil of this region against Iran by the elements of the Zionist enemy and anti-revolutionary elements.”

Appreciating the KRG and Iraq for implementing the provisions of the security agreement with Iran, President Raisi said, “Complete disarmament and the absence of anti-revolutionary elements in Iraqi territory is a necessity.”

“Iran sees no obstacle for the development of economic cooperation and trade relations with the Kurdistan Region. We consider the long borders between the two sides as a valuable opportunity to improve the level of relations, but security is the essential foundation of any kind of cooperation and expansion of interactions,” Raisi added, his official website reported.

For his part, Barzani said the religious, historical and cultural commonalities, during many years of neighborliness, have created deep bonds between the two sides.

Hailing Iran as a friend of hard times and a country that has always stood by Iraq and the Kurdistan region, Barzani paid tribute to late Iranian commander Lt. General Qassem Soleimani for his role in ensuring the security of the Kurdistan Region.

“The foundation of the new Iraq and today’s relations between Iran and Iraq are the result of the auspicious cooperation between Iran and Iraq, and therefore Iran is not just a neighbor for us. If it were not for the Islamic Revolution and the Islamic Republic, it would not be known what the fate of the Kurdish movement would be today. Respecting these collaborations and interactions is a red line that we will never cross,” he underscored.

“Our expectation from Iran is that it will continue to be by our side to solve the problems in Iraq and build a prosperous and advanced country. Our past relations are proud and our efforts are to build a brighter and better future than the past,” he stated.

“No common sense allows us to prefer relations with a regime that is in its worst position today over a powerful and friendly country,” Barzani stated, calling for the full implementation of the Iran-Iraq security agreement.

Addressing a high-level meeting of Judiciary officials in Tehran on Monday, Ayatollah Sadeq Amoli Larijani slammed the Kurdistan Regional Government’s move to hold an independence referendum as part of a new plot hatched by the hegemonic powers, particularly by the Zionist regime of Israel, to create turmoil in the region.

Expressing regret that the Kurdistan region has fallen into that trap, the top Iranian judge said the Iraqi government and all other parties are against such secession plan.

He further denounced the US hypocritical stance on the Iraqi Kurdistan Region’s controversial vote of independence, and reiterated Iran’s outright opposition to disintegration of the neighboring countries.

“We regard the Iraqi government as a unified and integrated one, and the Kurdistan Region’s authorities should be aware that they will get nowhere in the path to disintegration,” Ayatollah Amoli Larijani added.

Iraq’s Kurds rushed headlong into a vote for independence on September 25, although neighbors and countries in the Middle East, including Iran and Turkey, voiced opposition to the vote and supported the Baghdad central government.

After the controversial vote, thousands of Kurdish people in favor of Kurdistan Regional Government’s secession from Iraq took to the streets in Erbil, with some waving Israeli flags to celebrate.

Speaking at a meeting with Turkey’s Chief of the General Staff General Hulusi Akar in Tehran on Monday, Shamkhani said the KRG’s approach to hold the independence vote last Monday in the Kurdistan Region was “irresponsible and amateurish”.

“Paying no attention to the time and security requirements and pursuing tribal goals through this move will reduce the focus on the fight against Takfiri terrorism as the most important threat to the region and will rapidly spread the harmful security impacts on the Kurdish region of Iraq,” he said.

Shamkhani also stressed the need for coordinated efforts among Tehran, Baghdad and Ankara to manage developments and prevent the negative effect of the independence vote on the fight against terrorism in Iraq.

The Turkish top commander, for his part, stressed the need to support the central government in Iraq and preserve the integrity of the Arab country.

He said Iran, Iraq and Turkey will prevent the implementation of separatist plans in the region through joint efforts.

The Iraqi Kurdistan Region went ahead with its plan to hold the referendum last Monday while 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.