Erdogan Discusses with Macron Mediation Plan between Irbil, Baghdad

A man rides a motorcycle past a banner that reads 'Yes for the independence of Kurdistan' in Kirkuk, Iraq September 10, 2017. (Reuters)
A man rides a motorcycle past a banner that reads 'Yes for the independence of Kurdistan' in Kirkuk, Iraq September 10, 2017. (Reuters)
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Erdogan Discusses with Macron Mediation Plan between Irbil, Baghdad

A man rides a motorcycle past a banner that reads 'Yes for the independence of Kurdistan' in Kirkuk, Iraq September 10, 2017. (Reuters)
A man rides a motorcycle past a banner that reads 'Yes for the independence of Kurdistan' in Kirkuk, Iraq September 10, 2017. (Reuters)

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan held telephone talks on Saturday with his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron on the latest developments in the aftermath of the Kurdish independence referendum.

Turkish sources told Asharq Al-Awsat that the two officials addressed Macron’s initiative to mediate between Irbil and Baghdad.

For his part, Erdogan stressed Turkey’s commitment to the unity of Iraq and Syria.

Ankara had voiced its support for France’s initiative, saying however that it was not enough to resolve the crisis caused by the referendum.

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu had held talks in Paris on Thursday with French FM Jean-Yves Le Drian on the Kurdish developments. He expressed Turkey’s support for all efforts that would resolve the problem, noting however that a single country alone cannot resolve this issue.

Baghdad and Ankara had openly rejected the referendum.

The problem should be resolved through the Iraqi constitution, added Cavusoglu.

He also demanded that the Kurdistan region set a deadline for backing down from the “erroneous” referendum.

Erdogan urged during a meeting for his Justice and Development Party Kurdistan President Masoud Barzani to also go back on the vote “otherwise you will be alone and isolated.”

He said that Turkey is determined to stand against all powers that are threatening its internal and external security.

Barzani meanwhile announced on Saturday that Irbil will not close the door against dialogue with Baghdad.

“Kurdistan always wants to resolve its differences with Baghdad through dialogue. We want to end problems with it through negotiations,” he added while placing a wreath of flowers on the tomb of late Iraqi President Jalal Talbani in the city of al-Suleimanieh.

Iraqi Vice President Iyad Allawi revealed that efforts are ongoing to resolve disputes between the two sides.

Barazani and Allawi had held a meeting in al-Suleimanieh to address the latest Iraqi developments. This marks that first meeting between an Iraqi and Kurdish official since the September 25 referendum.

An overwhelming majority of Kurds voted in favor of independence.



US Targets Houthis with Fresh Sanctions Action

Houthi members ride a pick-up truck while on patrol amid tensions with Israel, in Sanaa, Yemen, 18 July 2025. (EPA)
Houthi members ride a pick-up truck while on patrol amid tensions with Israel, in Sanaa, Yemen, 18 July 2025. (EPA)
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US Targets Houthis with Fresh Sanctions Action

Houthi members ride a pick-up truck while on patrol amid tensions with Israel, in Sanaa, Yemen, 18 July 2025. (EPA)
Houthi members ride a pick-up truck while on patrol amid tensions with Israel, in Sanaa, Yemen, 18 July 2025. (EPA)

The United States on Tuesday imposed sanctions on what it said was a Houthi-linked petroleum smuggling and sanctions evasion network across Yemen and the United Arab Emirates in fresh action targeting the Iran-backed militant group.

The US Treasury Department in a statement said the two individuals and five entities sanctioned on Tuesday were among the most significant importers of petroleum products and money launderers that benefit the Houthis.

"The Houthis collaborate with opportunistic businessmen to reap enormous profits from the importation of petroleum products and to enable the group’s access to the international financial system," said Deputy Secretary of the Treasury Michael Faulkender.

"These networks of shady businesses underpin the Houthis’ terrorist machine, and Treasury will use all tools at its disposal to disrupt these schemes."

Among those targeted on Tuesday was Muhammad Al-Sunaydar, who the Treasury said manages a network of petroleum companies between Yemen and the United Arab Emirates and was one of the most prominent petroleum importers in Yemen.

Three companies in his network were also designated, with the Treasury saying they coordinated the delivery of approximately $12 million dollars’ worth of Iranian petroleum products with a US-designated company to the Houthis.

Since Israel's war in Gaza against the Palestinian group Hamas began in October 2023, the Iran-aligned Houthis have been attacking vessels in the Red Sea in what they say are acts of solidarity with the Palestinians.

In January, Trump re-designated the Houthi movement as a foreign terrorist organization, aiming to impose harsher economic penalties in response to its attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea and against US warships defending the critical maritime area.

In May, the United States announced a surprise deal with the Houthis where it agreed to stop a bombing campaign against them in return for an end to shipping attacks, though the Houthis said the deal did not include sparing Israel.

The Israeli military attacked Houthi targets in Yemen's Hodeidah port on Monday in its latest assault on the militants, who have been striking ships bound for Israel and launching missiles against it.