Media Line Interviews Dr. Mohammad Salih
On 9th September, 2023, the Media Line, an American independent news agency in the Middle East, interviewed the Head of International Relations and Diplomacy Department, Dr. Mohammad Salih Mustafa on the issue of Iraq being caught in the crossfire between Turkey’s and Iran’s Kurdish Agendas. Dr. Salih, responded to the Media Line questions on the foregoing issue by stating the following: “In any kind of collaboration with Turkey, they are going to step from an Iraqi national interest, and not necessarily take on board all the Turkish demands and/or expectations.” He also explained that Iran’s demand that Iraq should resettle Kurdish factions has to do with fears of upcoming protests in Iran.
Dr. Salih stated that Iraq will most likely not take steps that would contradict the Kurdistan region’s semi-autonomous status, despite pressure from Turkey and Iran. This is because Iraq is motivated to keep the Kurdistan region independent, as the region maintains a balance between Shiite and Sunni Iraqis. Since the 2003 regime change, the dynamic between Shiites and Sunnis in Iraq has been tense, making it a priority for Iraq not to upset the balance by changing the status of the Kurdistan region.
