Iran asserts Israel behind Iraqi Kurds independence vote

Tehran, Sep 19 : Israel is supporting the Iraqi Kurdistan Regional Government's call for a independence vote, a senior advisor to Iran's Supreme Leader said here, the media reported.

"Referendum on independence of Iraq's northern Kurdish autonomous region is an introduction to the partition of Iraq," Ali Akbar Velayati was quoted as saying by Xinhua news agency on Monday.

"The move is aimed at weakening the regional countries and it is a ground for penetration of foreigners in the region, in particular the Zionist regime of Israel," Velayati said.

Iran's political and military officials have announced their opposition to the Iraqi Kurds' referendum, saying that the stable, secure and unified Iraq will help the country's progress, official IRNA news agency reported.

On June 7, Iraq's autonomous Kurdish region announced that it had planned to hold a referendum on independence on September 25 to decide whether or not to secede from Iraq.