The United States Friday urged Iraqi Kurdistan to call off plans for an independence referendum later this month, warning the vote was distracting from efforts to stabilize the region and combat the Islamic State group.

"Holding the referendum in disputed areas is particularly provocative and destabilizing," the White House said a statement. "We therefore call on the Kurdistan Regional Government to call off the referendum and enter into serious and sustained dialogue with Baghdad."

Planned for September 25, the vote faces strong opposition from the federal government in Baghdad as well as neighboring Iran and Turkey, which fear it will stoke separatist aspirations among their own Kurdish minorities