A Study of Politicao-economic Relations of Iraqi Kurdistan with Turkey and its Impact on Iran's Foreign Policy

The political and economic relations of Iraqi Kurdistan and Turkey have an increasing trend in recent years. Turkey unlike her hard stand on Iraqi Kurdistan in the past is now trying to expand her influence in the region in every possible way. Of course this attraction and tendency of Iraqi Kurdistan towards Turkey have been strengthened and in recent years due to several determinants like having common borders, the question of Kurds, religious questions, the issue of energy, economic and transit issues are among the most important factors in establishing close ties among Iran, Turkey and Iraqi Kurdistan. On the other hand the question of unrest in Syria, the activities of parties and groups like PKK and close relations of Turkey with Iraqi Kurdistan and the United States, the spread of influence of Israel in Turkey, attempts by the Kurds to gain total independence etc. are among the negative factors affecting the relations of Iran with Turkey and Iraqi Kurdistan. The methodology used by the paper is qualitative based on descriptive-analytical approach. Based on library material, the required information and data are gathered and analyzed by two methods, thematic method and content analysis of library and internet sources. The main question raised by the paper is what has been the impact of expansion of political and economic relations of Iraqi Kurdistan with Turkey on foreign policy and interests of Islamic Republic of Iran in the region? The underlying hypothesis is that taking into consideration the positions of Turkey in the region and also Iraqi Kurdistan approach in recent years, the expansion of relations of the two leads to distancing of Iran from the region in political and economic fields and as a result the interests of Iran is jeopardized. The finding of the study shows that Turkey in recent years has extensively influenced in Iraqi Kurdistan. Today Turkey is the biggest economic investor in Iraqi Kurdistan. In political field also Turkey has greatly influenced in the region and this has led to closer ties with Iraq Kurdistan and Iran is lagging behind in this regard which cause a threat to Iran’s interests in Iraqi Kurdistan.