Iran and Iraq to hold joint border drills

Military exercises to take place near Iran's border with Iraqi Kurdistan in response to 'illegitimate' referendum.The Iranian and Iraqi armies will hold joint drills at several crossings on Iran's border with the autonomous Iraqi region of Kurdistan, according to officials.

Iran is cooperating with Iraq in building pressure on Iraqi Kurd's.

The announcement on Saturday came amid rising tensions in the wake of a controversial secession referendum in Iraq's Kurdistan region, where almost 93 percent of voters backed a split from Baghdad.

Monday's poll was strongly opposed by Iraq and its powerful neighbors Iran and Turkey amid fears it would provoke separatists among their own Kurdish population.