Speaking at a forum in Istanbul, Erdoğan stated that the Habur border gate with Iraq, which serves as the KRG's main gateway to the world, is only open for Turkey-bound traffic, and signaled that it could be totally closed in the future.
Erdoğan also warned that Turkey could block the KRG's oil exports. "We'll see who KRG will sell its oil to, Turkey is in control of the valve," he said, referring to the Kirkuk - Ceyhan oil pipeline that connects oil fields in northern Iraq to the oil terminal in the Mediterranean.
Oil revenues are of crucial importance for the KRG's economy, which is suffering from a high rate of unemployment.
Erdoğan noted that Turkey would not hesitate to use force if necessary, saying "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."
"We may come there overnight all of a sudden," he said sternly.