Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) Spokesperson Sadi Ehmed Pire organized a press conference in Hewler and answered the questions of journalists concerning the operations against Kirkuk by the Iraqi army and Hashd al-Shaabi forces on October 16.

The PUK Spokesperson stated that the attacks against Kirkuk were promoted by both Major-General Qasem Soleimani, Commander of the Qods Forces of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC), and Hakan Fidan, Undersecretary of Turkish intelligence MIT.

Pire, who stated that the attacks were a consequence of the “referendum”, elaborated as follows: “What has happened, was caused by the referendum. One demand of the Iraqi government was to cancel the results of the referendum, which is difficult to realize and enforce. PUK authorities agreed with Iraqi authorities over Kirkuk. The withdrawal of the Peshmerga was part of that agreement.”

THE HAKAN FIDAN AND QASEM SOLEIMANI CLAIM

Remarking that these happenings are no different than what happened in Makhmur and Shengal, Pire said: “Before 2014, the Iraqi government decided to make use of the oil in its own region. Turkey, Iran and Iraq had an agreement over Kirkuk, with Qasem Soleimani speaking for Iran, Felih Feyaz speaking for Iraq, and Hakan Fidan for Turkey. As part of that agreement, Hakan Fidan took part representing the Turkish intelligence service MIT, and Commander Qasem Soleimani, representing the Qods Forces, in the Kirkuk operation. In fact, the Iraqi Forces are not foreigners. Are the forces currently in Bamerne foreigners, or those currently in Makhmur and Khanaqin? Foreigners on Kurdish land are the Iranian and Turkish forces.”

KIRKUK’S NEW GOVERNOR

PUK Spokesperson Sedi Ehmed Pire remarked that the situation in Shengal, Khanaqin, Tuz Khurmatu and Kirkuk is calm right now, and added: “There will be no change in the Kurdistan Region administration. Its institutions and status will remain as it is. Only Rizgar Eli, PUK official for Hewler, will be Kirkuk’s new governor.”