“Erbil’s economy is suffering terribly, they don’t have control over their borders", he said, adding that "Baghdad has been backed by the international community whereas the KRG doesn't have any strong allies on its side; it must give in".

Mansour said that over time "the Iraqi prime minister needs to come up with a short term settlement to help the Kurds".

On Tuesday, US secretary of state Rex Tillerson announced that Washington would support the de-escalation of tensions between the central government and the autonomous region.

“The policy has always been a unified Iraq. And as you know, the independence referendum which was undertaken by the Kurdish regional authorities a few months back was disruptive to that unity,” he said.

“We’re working through a process between Baghdad and Erbil to ensure the two parties remain unified, we’re supporting a re-engagement around the Iraqi constitution which was never fully implemented."

The president of Iraq on Thursday, December 14, called for direct talks between Erbil and Baghdad to settle their long standing disputes on the basis of the constitution.

Kirkuk was one of the disputed areas retaken from Kurdish forces by Baghdad following the September referendum.

According to the National Iraqi president Fuad Masoum held talks with two of his deputies, Nouri Al Maliki and Ayad Allawi, in Baghdad on Thursday to discuss the political and security situation in the country.

The politicians debated Iraq’s upcoming elections, the federal budget law and the situation in the oil-rich city of Kirkuk, a statement said.

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