Iran puts economic squeeze on Iraqi Kurds
ARBIL - International pressure mounted on Iraqi Kurdistan Saturday after its controversial independence "yes" vote, with neighboring Iran announcing joint border drills with Iraq and banning fuel trade with the autonomous region.
A day after a cut in foreign air links with the region, Iran's state broadcaster said all transport companies and drivers have been ordered to stop carrying fuel products between Iran and Iraqi Kurdistan "until further notice".
Diesel is one of Iran's main exports to the Kurdish region, mainly for power plants and vehicles, while the Kurds almost exclusively rely on crude and fuel oil exports to raise revenues for their oil-rich region.
