Joint border drills to be held by Iran and Iraq

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Following the successful Kurdish independence referendum, an Iranian military official announced on Saturday that Iran and Iraq will hold joint military exercises near their border, as part of Tehran's effort to support Baghdad.

Iran strongly opposed the vote held Monday, fearing it would provoke separatists among its own Kurdish population.

Iraq's central government has demanded the annulment of the referendum, which resulted in a huge "yes" for independence.

A Noor missile is fired from an Iranian warship during a war game by the Iranian army near Jask port, Iran, May 11, 2010. /Reuters Photo

"A joint military exercise between Iran's armed forces and units from the Iraqi army will be held in the coming days along the shared border," Iranian Armed Forces spokesman Masoud Jazayeri told reporters.

The drills will take place at several crossings on Iran's border with Iraqi Kurdistan, he said, speaking after a high-level meeting of Iranian commanders.

"In the meeting, the territorial integrity and unity of Iraq and the illegitimacy of the independence referendum in northern Iraq were stressed again and necessary decisions were taken to provide security at the borders and welcome Iraq's central government forces to take position at border crossings."

Tehran has accepted a request by Baghdad for an Iraqi army presence at border crossings. Iraqi soldiers on Tuesday also took part in a Turkish military drill close to the Iraqi frontier.

Iran has been cooperating with Baghdad to build pressure on Kurdistan, notably by suspending all flights to and from the autonomous region and banning fuel exports and imports.

Source(s): AFP ,Reuters