1 Report for

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Daily Report for Monday, October 2, 2017

1 Report for

Monday,

October 2, 2017 Mehr 10, 1396

* Highlights. Page 2

* News Briefs. Page 3

* Iran and Iraqi Kurdistan referendum. Page 3

* Western-style referendum. Page 4

* Artesh deploys missile defense systems. Page 4

* Strategic blunder, tactical mistake. Page 5

* Korean news corner. Page 8

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2 Highlights

 Reformist newspaper Shargh calls for restraint in comments over the Iraqi Kurdistan referendum. Meanwhile, conservative pro-Ghalibaf newspaper Sobh-e No criticizes the West for double standard in dealing with Catalonia and Kurdish referendums. (See Pages 3 and 4)

 Conservative news website writes that despite the strategic blunder of Kurdistan referendum, Iran should not retaliate with the tactical mistake of imposing sanctions on Erbil. (See Page 5)

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3 Briefs

* Farsi-language reports that Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has arrived in Muscat, Oman, on Monday morning for talks on issues of mutual interests. Zarif is traveling traveling to Oman and Qatar on Monday and Tuesday to discuss bilateral and regional issues.

* Farsi-language Iranian Students’

News Agency (ISNA) reports that Interior Minister Abdulreza Rahmani Fazli has appointed Seyyed Hossein Hashemi as Vice Interior Minister.

Before this appointment, Hashemi served as Tehran Governor. He has also served as MP and member of Iran-South Korea Parliamentary Friendship Group in Iranian parliament.

News Agency (ISNA) reports that Yemen’s former president Ali Abdullah Saleh said that there is not a single Iranian within the Yemeni borders.

* Farsi-language state-owned Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) reports that Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif arrived in Muscat, Oman, on Monday morning for talks on issues of mutual interests.

He will “later’ depart Oman after discussing the latest regional and international developments with senior officials of Oman, particularly his Omani counterpart.

News Agency (ISNA) reports that Brigadier General Bijan Saedi has been appointed as the commander of Tehran Air Defense.

* Farsi-language Islamic Consultative Assembly News Agency (ICANA) reports that MP from Kerman constituency Mohammad Mehdi Zahedi says that there are currently about two million illegal foreigners in Iran.

Iran and Iraqi Kurdistan referendum

Farsi-language reformist newspaper Shargh refers to the Iraqi Kurdistan situation and Israel’s role in this matter.

It writes: It would be ideal for Israel to have a powerful regional ally in either Iraq or Iran. In this regard, the position of this regime in the recent crisis and its support for the referendum is fully understandable. But it is unlikely that the leaders of the Kurdish Iraq are unaware of the fact that relying on Israel’s support in the absence of global support for the “idea of independence” and the serious determination of the neighboring three governments [Iraq, Iran and Turkey] to prevent its realization will be catastrophic. If we accept that the transformation of the recent political crisis into a military phase would be a catastrophe for the whole region, then any and all steps should be taken to avoid any action that could direct the governments of Iraq and Turkey towards this option.

Iran’s position in the Iraqi Kurdistan crisis should be focused on a diplomatic effort to mediate between the central government of Iraq and the Kurdish region.

Iraq’s territorial integrity should also be supported under all circumstances. Territorial disintegration cannot be supported. Nevertheless, Iranian politicians should be cautious when commenting on the Kurdish referendum.

Insulting the Kurdish leaders, even by the Iraqis, and putting them alongside the leaders of Israel is a matter of concern. Such an approach would only provoke the Kurds living in Iran. Insulting and provoking Kurds would surely severely damage relations between Iran and Kurds who have had strongest ethnic and linguistic relations with Aryan people living in Iran.

On September 26, Hossein Shariatmadari wrote in the hardline conservative newspaper that that Western powers and Israel were behind the referendum “plot” to destabilize the Middle East. “The Zionists and the leaders of the Israeli regime, who voiced their concern

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over the elimination of takfiris and Daesh [Islamic State (IS)] from the regional equations during recent weeks and months, have been deeply excited about a referendum being conducted in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq,” Shariatmadari wrote.

Furthermore, Ali Akbar Velayati, a former foreign minister who now serves as foreign policy adviser to Ayatollah Khamenei, described Barzani as a fixer working for “Zionists” bent on causing the disintegration of Muslim states. “Barzani, unfortunately, has long been connected with the Zionists. … Barzani’s connection to the Israelis is the beginning of his political fallout,” said Velayati on September 26. He added, “The people of Iran and the region do not stand silent against this move and this deviation.

Barzani will have to retreat; otherwise, he will be confronted.”

Western-style referendum

Farsi-language conservative pro-Ghalibaf newspaper Sobh-e No also writes about the Iraqi Kurdistan referendum. It writes that two referendums have dominated the world news headlines recently. One referendum concerns the Catalonia region in Spain, and the other referendum took place recently at Iraqi Kurdistan.

It refers to how the two central governments have reacted to the two referendums. Sobh-e No asks: If the Iraqi central government had handled the Kurdistan referendum in the same way as the Spanish government reacted to Catalonia referendum, would the Western governments have remained indifferent to

the violence by the Iraqi central government. They were silent over how the Spanish government dealt with the Catalonia referendum. Would the Spanish government allow a regime like Israel to be freely present in the Catalan region and to incite the leaders and people of the region to separate?

Certainly, the Western governments’ dual criteria and the discriminatory behavior concerning similar international events will not be hidden from the eyes of the people of the world. People’s dislike of such discriminatory behaviors would only grow in time. In recent years, we have seen similar discriminatory behaviors by the West when dealing with the terrorist groups in Iraq, Syria and Lebanon, and so on. If terrorists carry out operations in the streets of London, Paris and Madrid, they deserve to be destroyed. But if the same terrorists commit crimes in Damascus, Baghdad and Beirut, they will not only be not condemned, but will be placed under the umbrella of Western, Arabic, Hebrew arms and arms under the umbrella.

Artesh deploys missile defense systems

Farsi-language Fars News Agency reports that 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.

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5 Strategic blunder, tactical mistake:

Tehran should not respond to Kurdish referendum with sanctions

Mullah Mustafa Barzani, father of the incumbent Kurdistan Regional Government President Massoud Barzani, was the pioneering figure of pro-independence movements in the Iraqi Kurdistan.

During his time, Mullah Mustafa Barzani joined Qazi Muhammad, leader of Kurdish separatist movement in Iran, to establish the breakaway Republic of Mahabad in 1946.

The third factor: since 1991 and after the first Persian Gulf War, led by the United States to punish Saddam Hussein and push his army out of Kuwait, thanks to establishment of a no-fly zone, Kurdistan enjoyed the status of an independent political entity, both from Saddam Hussein’s rule or the influence of the post-Saddam government of Iraq and the provinces of Sulaymaniyah, Erbil and Dahuk in northern Iraq were governed by Patriotic Union of Kurdistan and Kurdistan Democratic Party.

The strategic blunder of the Kurdistan Democratic Party, particularly Massoud Barzani, and their holding of a referendum, has created a predicament for the entire region and even created a specter of war.

Barzani and other Kurdish leaders who backed the referendum will be held

accountable to the judgements of history to explain why, for the sake of short-term interests, they ruined the constructive atmosphere created among regional players thanks to the battle against ISIS.

Instead, Iran, Turkey and Syria can voice political support for Iraq’s central government against excessive demands of KRG leaders and seek a solution via

negotiations with figures in the government, parliament, and among Arab and Kurdish tribes, without the need to establish new punishments.

Farsi-language conservative news website Khabar Online: Of more than 70 percent of eligible voters who participated in the polls on September 25th, 92 per cent voted in favor of independence of the Kurdistan region from Iraq. While the results are incontestable, there lingers the question of why a vote for separation at a time of

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global trend towards unification and formation of regional alliances to assert a larger role in international affairs? Three explanations can be given.

First is suffering of the Kurdish people during decades of Saddam Hussein’s rule over Iraq. Repression of their Kurdish identity, ban on teaching their mother tongue, marginalization in the political process and discrimination in access to economic resources were rampant. However, oppression was not limited to the Kurds at that time and all the Iraqi citizens, except those who were members of the Baath Party, suffered more or less under similar circumstances. But for the Kurds of Iraq, these sufferings were linked to their historical struggle for independence from the age of Ottoman Empire (when they were supported by the British) and similar to secession attempts in Iran and the formation of the Republic of Mahabad (backed by the Soviet Union).

Second is the legacy of the Barzani family. Mullah Mustafa Barzani, father of the incumbent Kurdistan Regional Government President Massoud Barzani, was the pioneering figure of pro-independence movements in the Iraqi Kurdistan. But collaboration with regional or international hegemons to cement their tribal dominance is a blot on their record. During his time, Mullah Mustafa Barzani joined Qazi Muhammad, leader of Kurdish separatist movement in Iran, to establish the breakaway Republic of Mahabad in 1946. Both followed the Soviet Union’s policy of pressuring the Shah of Iran, Mohammad-Reza Pahlavi, at that time. But an agreement between Tehran and Moscow and the latter’s end of support for secessionist movements inside Iran forced Barzani to return to Iraq. Ironically, in the 1960s and early 1970s, the same Mullah Mustafa sided with the Shah of Iran and Washington in their policy of undermining Saddam Hussein. Massoud Barzani is following his father’s line, and believes he can achieve his adventurous goals in the light of collaboration with the United States and the expansionist regime of Israel.

The third factor: since 1991 and after the first Persian Gulf War, led by the United States to punish Saddam Hussein and push his army out of Kuwait, thanks to establishment of a no-fly zone, Kurdistan enjoyed the status of an independent political entity, both from Saddam Hussein’s rule or the influence of the post-Saddam government of Iraq and the provinces of Sulaymaniyah, Erbil and Dahuk in northern Iraq were governed by Patriotic Union of Kurdistan and Kurdistan Democratic Party.

But during these 26 years of autonomy, Kurdish leaders failed to demonstrate good governance and a long list of corruptions and inefficiencies mars their record. In this light, declaration of independence appears more of an instigation of public sentiment

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among the Kurds and a delay tactic aiming to keep those leaders in power for a few more years.

The strategic blunder of the Kurdistan Democratic Party, particularly Massoud Barzani, and their holding of a referendum, has created a predicament for the entire region and even created a specter of war. Barzani and other Kurdish leaders who backed the referendum will be held accountable to the judgements of history to explain why, for the sake of short-term interests, they ruined the constructive atmosphere created among regional players thanks to the battle against ISIS. It seems the pro-independence campaign in KRG, which has faced opposition from most members of the international community with the exception of Israel, is a disguise for policies primarily designed by Tel Aviv and by those who enjoy war and instability in the Middle East.

However, there is an equally more important question of how Iran should deal with the strategic blunder of the Kurdish leaders in Erbil and Sulaymaniyah. I believe that sanctions and threats are not an efficient response to this strategic miscalculation, but only an erroneous tactical response to a deep-rooted problem, particularly when the result of the referendum shows that for whatever reason, the majority of Iraqi Kurds favor independence.

Sanctions and threats of resorting to force by Iran may appear a reasonable response at first glance, but they fail to address long-term challenges. They will affect the ordinary citizens in KRG and will only foster illegal trade across borders, benefitting the smugglers. Instead, Iran, Turkey and Syria can voice political support for Iraq’s central government against excessive demands of KRG leaders and seek a solution via negotiations with figures in the government, parliament, and among Arab and Kurdish tribes, without the need to establish new punishments.

An Iraqi-Kurdish solution to the new challenge can better help foil Israel’s schemes, and can also prevent another war which would hearten terrorist groups in the region including ISIS. This could help prove good faith to the Kurds of Iraq and show that independence, welfare and conservation of ethnic identity in the region can be achieved only through partnership. It will also block the way towards increasing intervention of hegemonic powers in the region or a new wave of arms’ trade.

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8 Korean news corner

 Farsi-language Islamic Consultative Assembly News Agency (ICANA) reports that MP and member of parliament’s Committee for National Security and Foreign Policy Mohammad Javad Jamali comments on continued tension between America and North Korea and

said: Trump’s rhetoric and pressures are aimed at changing North Korea’s policies. He also said: The nuclear issue of the United States and North Korea is similar to the operation of the Gulf of Pigs, which went on to brink of nuclear war, but this would not be the case with tensions between the United States and North Korea. In fact, we will not see a real nuclear conflict between North Korea and the United States. The rhetoric and pressure are aimed at changing the North Korea’s policies. In spite of North Korea’s threat, after a while, Trump announced that he was not seeking to overthrow the North Korean regime, even though he again raised threats to the UN General Assembly. He added: North Korea is not powerful in terms of size, population and resources, and all of its ability to build a nuclear bomb is aimed at creating balance of power. Therefore, faced with threats and sanctions, it increased the range of its missiles, warheads, and atomic tests to the point where it recently built a hydrogen bomb. It also test fired the missiles over South Korea and Japan to threaten America. Pointing out that Japan and South Korea, as advanced countries, are reluctant to fight and destroy their capital, he said: The consequences of a nuclear warfare and the consequent severe damage have forced Japan and South Korea have been forced to seek America’s help to prevent a war. Recalling the presence of president of the Presidium of the Supreme People’s Assembly of North Korea at President Rouhani’s swearing- in ceremony this year, he said: During his meetings with Iranian officials, he said that they would not discuss such topics during negotiations with the United States because the United States wants to destroy North Korea, but in other cases North Korea is willing to negotiate. Negotiations will not resolve the tension between US and North Korea because North Korea does not trust the

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Americans. However, predictions also indicate that there will not be a war between the two countries.

 Farsi-language Iranian Students’ News Agency (ISNA) reports that despite mounting tensions between Washington and Pyongyang, the United States actually has direct channels for communication with the North Korean regime, however, Pyongyang has shown no interest in talks. According to Sputnik, US State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said on Sunday that diplomatic channels are open to North Korean leader, but the channels will not remain open.

 Farsi-language Iranian Students’ News Agency (ISNA) reports that a North Korea ship was seized after it was caught carrying a huge supply of weapons to Egypt. The Express newspaper writes that the weapons supply was disguised under bins of iron ore. The ship was decorated with Cambodian colors. More than 30,000 rocket-propelled grenades discovered on board the freighter named the Jie Shun.

 Farsi-language newspaper Shargh reports that Italian Foreign Minister Angelino Alfano announces that the Italian government has expelled North Korean ambassador to Italy due to recent missile tests by Pyongyang. Alfano told Italian newspaper la Repubblica that Rome has no diplomatic relations with North Korea. North Korean Ambassador [to Italy] has left Italy.