Barzani presidency extention was an Iranian plan: daily

9.7.2013 – The Arabic daily of Asharq al- Awsat claimed the extention of Kurdistan Region president Massoud Barzani’s period for two more years has been an Iranian plan.

Penned by the daily’s reporter Shirzad Shirkhani Asharq al- Awsat said the plan has been Iran’s which is attempting to intense ties between the Iraqi Kurds and Arabs.“The Barzani extention period attempt was an Iranian plan that was welcomed by Iraqi Shiite lines,” a Kurdish official told the daily on the condition of anonymity, adding that Tehran is attempting to lessen rifts between Kurds and Arabs.

The Kurdish official further said Iran follows two aims in providing the scenario; one is to keep its increasing role in Iraq and the second is sending a pro- Iranian president to Iraq’s presidential palace and its choice is Barzani.

The source also said it was Iran who made Nouri al- Maliki to visit Erbil and meet Massoud Barzani after years.

The Kurdish leading official went on to say that Iran is attempting to make the Iraqi Kurds dream to have their own country come true and Barzani is the only proper person who is able to put the plan into action. Iran has been successful in parts of its plans, the source added, claiming that Tehran aims to decrease Turkey role in the Kurdish region politics and there are hints of the attempt. The reporter further writes a Barzani-backed Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) official has firmly denied the reports and said Barzani will never take hold of a post in Baghdad.