Flag issue in Kirkuk divisive, source of tension.
Mr. Bahram Ghasemi who was reacting to proposals in Iraq that flag of Kurdistan Autonomous Region be flown in government offices, said that Iran’s official line of policy had been to respect Iraqi national sovereignty and territorial integrity; based on this, Ghasemi concluded, “the flag of a federal unit of Iraq in a city over which there is still debate as to which side it should belong is unconstitutional and violates territorial integrity of the country and is condemned”, he told the press Monday evening. He also reiterated Iran’s unfaltering support for Iraqi central government in fighting and defeating ISIL; “the act in Kirkuk of flying KAR’s flag in a highly controversial city would waste national capabilities and capacities and effectively deflect strength and energy otherwise should be directed to the destruction of terrorism”, he added.