Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 7
By Khalid Kazimov – Trend:
A senior Iranian commander has warned northern Iraq's Kurdish Regional Government (KRG) against “Saudi measures in the region to arm anti-Iran groups”.
Major General Yahya Rahim Safavi, a top military adviser to Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has expressed his concerns over alleged measures taken by the consulate of Saudi Arabia to arm Iran’s opponents in the Iraqi region, Mehr news agency reported.
“We warn Barzanies [officials close to Masoud Barzani, the head of KRG] against allowing Saudis’ consulate to supply arms to anti-Iranian [groups] in northern Iraq,” he said.
He further expressed concerns that the KRG may adopt policies which are not in line with Iraqi central government.
Saying that Iran has helped the Barzani to protect Erbil City, he added that Iran may stop providing port for the KRG if they start “such political games”.
Iranian officials over the past several months have accused Saudi Arabia of backing “terrorist groups” in the region and making efforts aimed at destabilizing Iran’s south-eastern and western borders.
Ties between Iran and Saudi Arabia deteriorated following the Saudi execution of a prominent Shia Muslim cleric.
Back in January, Saudi Arabia executed Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr who was convicted of “terror-related offences.”
Following the execution, angry Iranian protesters stormed Saudi embassy in Tehran and consulate in Mashhad. Right after the attacks on its diplomatic missions, Saudi Arabia said it severed ties with the Islamic Republic.
Iran warns Iraqi Kurds over armed opposition groups
A senior Iranian commander has warned northern Iraq's Kurdish Regional Government (KRG) against “Saudi measures in the region to arm anti-Iran groups”.
