Turkey will take political, economic, commercial and security steps against northern Iraq's Kurdish Regional Government (KRG), as it is holding a referendum for an independent state, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said Monday.
Erdoğan said on Monday that Ankara would close its border with northern Iraq over an independence referendum and threatened the Iraqi Kurds with blocking their key oil exports.
"Entrance-exit will be closed" at the Habur border crossing, Turkey's sole land border crossing with Iraq, Erdogan said in a speech in Istanbul.
He said there were currently crossings allowed to the Iraqi side only but travel would be closed in both directions this week.
He added: "After this let's see through which channels they will send their oil through... and who they will sell to. The valve is with us. It's finished the moment we close it."
Iraqi Kurdish oil is exported through Turkey and its southern Ceyhan port, a key economic lifeline for the region.
Oil revenues are of crucial importance for KRG's economy, which is suffering from a high rate of unemployment.
Speaking to a press conference in Istanbul, Erdoğan said the referendum was null and void to Turkey.
"Regardless of the results, the referendum, which is not in conformity with the current law in Iraq, is null and void for us, we call it illegitimate," Erdoğan said.
He reiterated Turkey's support for Iraq's territorial integrity and social unity. "And we will work to ensure that."
"We are taking all kind of steps in northern Iraq, particularity on political, economic, commercial and security issues,"
He pointed to the ongoing military drill at the Turkey's border with northern Iraq, adding that more measures would be announced soon.
"At the same time, the [Turkish] Air Force is in the same situation and only permits passage to the Iraqi border," he said.
"We will immediately announce other measures and steps taken this week."
Iraqi Kurds were voting on Monday in defiance of warnings from Ankara as well as Baghdad and Iran. But Erdoğan said "irrespective of the result, we see this as null and void and say it is illegitimate".
He again urged the KRG to take a step back and appeared to threaten the northern Iraq administration of a possible cross-border operation.
Erdoğan noted that Turkey would not hesitate to use force if necessary. "Just as we've liberated Jarablus, al-Rai, and al-Bab from Daesh in Syria, if need be we won't shy away from such steps in Iraq," Erdoğan said.
"We may come there overnight all of a sudden," he added.
Last week the Turkish armed forces began a military drill in the region around the border town of Silopi including 100 military vehicles, which continued with reinforcements this weekend.
The Turkish parliament on Saturday approved overwhelmingly a one-year extension of a mandate to use troops abroad in Syria and Iraq.
Monday's non-binding referendum will see voters in northern Iraqi Kurdish Regional Government (KRG)-held areas, including areas disputed between Erbil and Baghdad, vote on seceding from Iraq.
Baghdad, Turkey, Iran, the U.S., and the UN have all spoken out against the poll, saying it will only distract from the ongoing fight against Daesh and further destabilize the region.
Iraq's central government has threatened to intervene militarily if the vote leads to violence.
KRG President Massoud Barzani has said a "Yes" win would not result in an automatic declaration of independence but would simply lead to further negotiations with Baghdad.
