Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi (Photo: VNA)

Abadi said he will not discuss the result and vowed to impose Iraqi rule throughout the Kurdistan Region.

The vote was opposed by the international community. Russia on Wednesday warned Iraq and the Kurds against taking any steps that might destabilize the Middle East. French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves le Drian said that if a declaration of independence happened, it would provoke new crises in the Middle East just as the Islamic State is being defeated in Iraq. However, he called on the central Iraqi government to give the Kurds greater autonomy so that they can join in national reconstruction and reconciliation. Iran and Turkey strongly denounced the referendum, which they said will ignite separation in the Kurdish-inhabited areas.