WASHINGTON DC – Rudaw caught up recently with Mustafa Hejri, leader of the Kurdistan Democratic Party of Iran (KDPI), during his visit to Washington for meetings with US lawmakers and officials. Hijri, whose group is based in Iraqi Kurdistan and fighting for greater rights for Kurds in Iran, said he was in Washington to warn about Iranian policies in the region, which he claimed included bolstering ISIS in order to strengthen Tehran’s own hand. He said that a nuclear deal Iran is signing with the West would enrich and embolden Iranian authorities against its own citizens and minorities. He said the KDPI had stopped its armed struggle against Iran out of consideration for the Kurdistan Region, but that “we can’t hold our armed struggle forever.” Here is an edited transcript of his full interview:
Rudaw: Are you on an official visit to the US? What’s the purpose of your trip?
Mustafa Hejri: I came to the US on my own initiative and have visited the US previously. I came this time based on the events that are happening in the Middle East: the ISIS war, talks between Western countries and Iran about its nuclear program, on which an agreement is expected to happen in June. We wanted to convey our concerns and views to the Americans about potential negative aspects of the deal for the Kurds. We also visited Germany and some other European countries to convey our views as well.
What did you specifically talk about with US lawmakers?
We wanted to convey our concerns and views to the Americans about potential negative aspects of the deal for the Kurds. 
What I focused mostly on for Westerners, especially the Americans, was that the deal with Iran is good if Iran is prevented from obtaining a nuclear bomb. That’s a good development for regional and world peace. But the negative aspect of the nuclear deal is very important for us, such as the lifting economic embargos which will let Iran sell its oil freely. This will lead to Iran gaining more revenues more easily and this will make Iran stronger to meddle in the affairs of the region. Iran’s hand will be more open to “export their revolution” in the region and assist its allies such as Bashar Assad’s regime, Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Houthis in Yemen, as we see now. These further Iran’s policies in the region and will cause more tension and wars in the area. Another reason is ISIS. Obama said previously that Iran and US share common points. But on the contrary, Iran does not fight ISIS, it is one of the key actors that wants to make ISIS stronger. This is from intelligence we have received from credible sources within the Islamic Republic of Iran, it is not analysis and the realities on the ground indicate that. The fall of Mosul and Ramadi are evidence of Iran’s policies to strengthen ISIS.
Are you sure that the falls of Mosul and Ramadi were engineered by Tehran?
Yes, according to our sources -- and the realities on the ground reinforce that. If you have observed, the slogan of ISIS is anti- Shiite. But it has not attacked the Shiite areas. Once Mosul fell, everyone was expecting the group to march toward Baghdad, since the Iraqi army had lost morale. But it changed the direction of its attack toward Kurdistan, because Iran wanted that. Iran wants to obliterate Iraqi civilization, identity, art, culture and change the demographics. In addition, Tehran seeks to transform Iraq into another Iran. For example, the formation of Hashd al-Shaabi (Popular Mobilization Force) that is trained, armed and equipped by Iran. This is to ensure that Iraq is under its full control militarily. And withdrawal of the Iraqi army from Ramadi was to justify deployment of Hashd al-Shaabi in Anbar province. Its role is to finish the destruction of anything that has been left by ISIS. We saw in Tikrit that the standing buildings were leveled to the ground and set on fire by Hashd al-Shaabi, and the people were displaced. So, it’s not for no reason that IDPs from Anbar are not allowed to come to Baghdad, because the Shiite want to purge the areas of the Sunnis. These are all within the framework of a master plan by the Islamic Republic of Iran to ensure forming an Iraq where Iran only can rule. For Iran, there is still a scenario of another Saddam Hussein in Iraq and they want to ensure this will not happen through chaos. On one hand, Iran redirects ISIS attacks to Kurdistan, and on the other hand it comes and says ‘I am here to help you.’ In addition, Tehran comes between Kurdish political parties as well as the Shiites, in order to remain dominant. Thus, in short, ISIS furthers Iran’s goals in the area. But unfortunately, the West does not know Iran’s goals in the area, and we wanted to inform the West of what we know about Iran’s plans in the area on our visit.
Are you saying that Iran’s goal are not just political and military, but cultural too, through the destruction of Iraqi culture and civilization?
Unfortunately, the West does not know Iran’s goals in the area, and we wanted to inform the West of what we know about Iran’s plans in the area on our visit.
Absolutely. Iran’s goal is long-term. It wants its influence to remain even in the future, and this can be done by erasing and changing Iraqi culture and civilization. The real ruler in Baghdad is Iran and this can be sustained by educating and training the Iraqi Army through Hashd al-Shaabi. This is not just in Iraq, but in Syria, Yemen and wherever it can.
What negative impact could an Iranian nuclear deal have on Kurds in Iran?
This is a danger we see and we have told the Americans that a nuclear deal could further lead to turning a blind eye on human rights violations in Iran. We are concerned that the US turns a blind eye on violence committed by Iran. Just look, under the sanctions Iran is prohibited to sell arms, but it has sold weapons to Iraq worth $10 billion. But the US has overlooked this and don't talk about it. Iran arming groups is another thing the US continues to ignore for the sake of the nuclear deal. Western countries think that removing the sanctions could lead to economic prosperity for the people of Iran and that the Kurds are to benefit from it, too. But it is a grave interest to think that, because the Iranian regime has no interest in making its own people prosperous. All the money and revenues will be used to consolidate its military institutions and fund armed groups outside Iran that further Tehran’s goal. Consequently, there will not be any benefit for the people of Iran.
Are you satisfied with the US position over the incident in Mahabad?
US had no stance over the Mahabad protests. One hundred Kurds are still in jail and they are under interrogation and torture. Tehran wants to give the strictest punishment to the prisoners in order to dismay Kurds and scare them to not repeat anything like this. Unfortunately, the West’s position in general, and the US position in particular, was not satisfactory at all and one could not count on them.
I would like to tell you that in Iran the changing of officials -- from ministers to presidents – is all phony,
Do you have any negotiation channel with Tehran for a political settlement of the Kurdish question in Iran?
We don't have any connections with Tehran and we don't believe in Iran to take any step to given rights of minorities in Iran. Iran does not believe in the rights of minorities and Kurds. Our past experience has shown that talking with Iran is futile. This is not because we don't believe in negotiations, but because Iran does not believe in it. For example, we lost Dr. Abdulrahman Ghassemlou while seeking to negotiate with the Iranian regime in Vienna and he was killed by Iranians.
Has the socio-political status of Kurds improved since Hassan Rouhani has come to power almost a year ago in Iran?
I would like to tell you that in Iran the changing of officials -- from ministers to presidents – is all phony and done cosmetically to tell the world that they have elections, government, parliament and court. Those elected in Iran have the same ideology. When they come and make some election promises, it's aimed at attracting people to the ballot boxes. But when it comes to action, they do nothing. Rouhani is a lively example of this. He made lots of promises to minorities and Kurds. But things have gotten worse, based on statistics released by the regime. More people are executed under Rohani government than president Ahmadinejad. The only difference between Rouhani and Ahmadinejad is the way they speak. Otherwise, their ideology and program is the same.
Do you plan to resume armed struggle against Iran?
We plan to resume the struggle by our Peshmergas. We don't intend to clash with the Iranian state, but want our Peshmergas and cadres to be in Iran and get in touch with our people and interact with them. But if Iran attacks our Peshmergas, then it would be natural for our Peshmergas to defend themselves. This is our program. But there are some obstacles with the PKK (Kurdistan Workers’ Party) that we want to resolve via negotiations.
Don't you think that resumption of armed struggle will cause diplomatic problems for the KRG?
Iran may pressure the KRG, but we have halted our armed struggle for years in order to avoid causing trouble for KRG. But we can't hold our armed struggle forever so that KRG will not be in trouble. I believe problems will be created for KRG, but if Kurdish political parties can respond to Tehran with one voice problems can be avoided.
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