Al-Monitor l Fazel Hawramy: Iran appears to be preparing to normalize its relations with Iraqi Kurdistan�after two tumultuous months in which it helped Baghdad bring the Kurds to their knees following their ill-fated�Sept. 25 independence referendum. Iran has expanded its influence in Iraq by delivering on its promises to Baghdad, and in particular assisting the Popular Mobilization Units�in retaking disputed territories from Kurdish forces, just as Iran promised before the referendum.


�The September referendum on Kurdish independence has had disastrous consequences for the Kurds and for the cooperation that had emerged between Baghdad and Erbil during the Mosul campaign,� former US Ambassador to Iraq�Stuart Jones told�a�Senate committee�Dec. 14. �Following the referendum, [Iraqi�Prime Minister Haider�al-Abadi]�did what was needed. Now he is in a position to work toward�reconciliation.�

These and other comments by both Iranian and US officials confirm one important point about the situation in northern Iraq during the past few months, or perhaps even years: Iran and the United States were unified�in their opposition to the referendum, and now appear again to agree � this time on pushing Abadi to reconcile with the Kurds. Iran seems to be doing so by resuming trade with the Iraqi Kurdistan Region after closing its land border crossings, a vital lifeline for the Kurdistan economy.

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