Chairman of the Iranian Parliament's National Security Commission Alaeddin Boroujerdi (C) speaks at a press conference held in Damascus, capital of Syria, on Oct. 5, 2017. A visiting Iranian official on Thursday described the independence bid of Iraq's Kurdistan region as the creation of "a new Israeli entity" in the region. (Xinhua/Ammar Safarjalani)
DAMASCUS, Oct. 5 (Xinhua) -- A visiting Iranian official on Thursday described the independence bid of Iraq's Kurdistan region as the creation of "a new Israeli entity" in the region.
"What happened in the (Iraqi) Kurdistan region, from the perspective of Iran, is totally rejected and we will not tolerate the formation of a new Israeli entity in the region," said Chairman of the Iranian Parliament's National Security Commission Alaeddin Boroujerdi in a press conference held in Damascus.
Late last month, the Kurds in Iraqi Kurdistan voted for independence from Iraq amid a barrage of international and regional opposition.
The independence referendum has sparked tension between Bagdad and Kurdistan regional government, with Bagdad taking several punitive measures against Kurdistan including halting air flights to the region.
Although the vote is non-binding and is not expected to result in immediate independence, both Turkey and Iran have closed their borders with Iraqi Kurdistan.
Meanwhile, Boroujerdi said that the regional and international stances toward Syria are changing step by step.
"We are optimistic and see good in what is currently going on," he said.
He stressed that his country would continue to provide full support to the Syrian government.
The Iranian official also accused the United States of aiding the Islamic State (IS) militants.
"The latest measures by the United States, including transporting IS leaders and providing medical treatment to them, indicate who is standing behind terrorism," he said.
