Rohani, Erdogan Decry Iraq's Kurdish Independence Bid

Iranian President Hassan Rohani said that Iran, Turkey, and Iraq "have no other option than taking serious actions" in response to the unilaterally-declared secession referendum held by Iraqi Kurdish autonomous authorities on September 25. The Iraqi government, neighboring countries, and major Western powers have criticized the poll taking place. Speaking alongside Rohani on October 4 following an official meeting in Tehran, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan alleged that the Israeli intelligence service Mosad was behind the Iraqi Kurdish decision to organize the referendum. Such an allegation had been rejected by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who said on October 1: "Israel had no part in the Kurdish referendum, apart from the deep, natural sympathy that the people of Israel have had for many years for the Kurdish people and their aspirations." (Reuters)