TEHRAN: Iran said Tuesday that the independence vote in Iraqi Kurdistan would trigger 鈥減olitical chaos鈥� in the region, while the Revolutionary Guards said they were sending new missile equipment to the border.
鈥淭he outcome of this move is political chaos in the region,鈥� said Ali Akbar Velayati, chief foreign policy adviser to Iran鈥檚 supreme leader.
鈥淭he honorable people of Kurdistan will not bear this disgrace,鈥� he said, according to the semi-official ISNA news agency.
There was a large turnout for Monday鈥檚 vote in northern Iraq鈥檚 autonomous Kurdistan region, which is expected to deliver a resounding 鈥測es鈥� to independence.
As with Turkey, Iran strongly opposes independence for the Iraqi Kurds, fearing it will provoke separatists among its own Kurdish population.
State television made a rare admission on Tuesday that Kurds in Iran鈥檚 northwestern border region had held peaceful demonstrations in support of the referendum.
鈥淧eople in the cities of Sanandaj, Baneh and Saghez of Kurdistan province held peaceful gatherings congratulating their Iraqi fellow Kurdish-speaking people,鈥� broadcaster IRIB reported.
Iran is also worried about ties between the Kurds and Israel, the only government in the region that has supported Kurdish efforts toward statehood.
鈥淯nfortunately, (Iraqi Kurd leader Massud) Barzani has been connected to the Zionists since long ago and hasn鈥檛 learned a lesson from Palestine,鈥� said Velayati.
Iran has also blamed its traditional enemies 鈥� the Americans and British 鈥� despite their firm opposition to the referendum.
Meanwhile, the deputy head of the Revolutionary Guards aerial headquarters, Alireza Elahi, said it had 鈥渟ent new missile equipment to the western region to boost the aerial defense and preparedness against any violation.鈥�
At least one Iranian lawmaker called for a more conciliatory stance now that the vote has gone ahead.
鈥淭he referendum does not mean independence for Iraqi Kurdistan. There is a process which, if implemented, will take two to three years. So we should not be so sensitive and should only make clear to Kurdish people that this is not in their interest,鈥� MP Ali Motahari told reporters, according to ISNA.