President Recep Tayyip Erdogan warned the Kurdish Regional Government (KRG) that the controversial independence referendum will result in failure, saying ethnic clashes will not benefit anyone in the region.

Speaking at the Police Academy graduation ceremony at the Presidential Complex, Erdogan said the KRG is throwing itself into chaos with its leap towards independence, while it was already enjoying privileges with the oil trade.

"Turkmens in the region are under persecution, their rights are not being taken into consideration. If we are standing against the recent developments in northern Iraq, it is because we want the best for Arabs, Kurdish people, Turkmens and other ethnic groups there."

The illegitimate referendum saw Iraqis in KRG-controlled areas -- and in a handful of territories disputed between Erbil and Baghdad, including ethnically mixed Kirkuk and Mosul -- vote on whether or not to declare independence.

Ankara recently voiced its grave concerns regarding the status of Kirkuk and the future of Turkmens. "Just as we liberated Jarablus, al-Rai and al-Bab from Daesh in Syria, if need be we will not shy away from such steps in Iraq," Erdogan said.

Foreign Minister Mevlud Cavusoglu also pointed to a military operation if Turkmens are harmed. "The military option depends on developments. If there were to be any action against our Turkmen brothers and sisters, then right away."