Hawzah News Agency (Qom, Iran) – In an interview with Hawzah News correspondent, senior Shia scholar Ayatollah Mohsen Faqihi made some remarks over the independence referendum in Iraq’s semi-autonomous Kurdistan region, which was held in defiance of widespread calls for its cancellation made by Iraqi government as well as Iranian and Turkish officials.

He asserted, "We believe in preserving the sovereignty of Iraq as a whole country and Iranian officials have vigorously voiced their support for the central government of Iraq."

Reiterating that independence of Iraqi Kurdistan will cause new tensions in the country as well as the whole region, Ayatollah Faqihi added, "Such disintegrating moves create serious problems for Iraq as well as the whole world in terms of geopolitical issues."

The seminary lecturer further remarked that Iraqi Kurdistan independence will cause their seclusion in the region saying, "Iran, Turkey, Syria and other countries must take a unified stance against this referendum and condemn such destabilizing moves."

"Today, it seems as if the whole world is against the independence of Iraqi Kurdistan and apparently the United Nations has also condemned this referendum, but the Zionist regime is supporting it," the Shia cleric concluded.