Iran has great leverage in the region as a whole, and it plays a decisive role in settling the regional conflicts and internal problems of countries. Just like the United States (US), it gives legitimacy to its meddling in transnational struggles and problems. It has been interfering in regional affairs from land, water and sky.
It interferes by land in the issues of Pakistan, Afghanistan, Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Turkey, Iraq and the Kurdistan Region. On water, Iran has reached Oman, Qatar, Bahrain and Kuwait, also reaching Syria, Yemen and Lebanon. It has a strong economy, and is expanding its trade network with Russia, China and India.
From a military perspective, Iran develops military technology and manpower. It has suicide armies even outside the country to reinforce its military standing in the region. Within the Iranian army in Syrian, Iranians, Afghanis, Iraqis, Syrians, and Lebanese fight together.
Iran no longer suffers from containment and embargo. It is now a country which influences peace and security in the world. It is part of the big power-sharing struggle in the world. It is now opening further with Europe and the US. The world now wants to open its gates to Iranian markets rather than tightening sanctions.
It is suspected that the international community’s opening to Iran and turning a blind eye on its meddling is a trap. The pressing question is this: how should we conduct ourselves as a small and weak region sharing a long border with this strong country where there is also the Kurdish question?
In the past, we were more committed to Iran due to its problems with Iraq and the support we were getting from Iran to further our revolutions against Iraq. Nowadays, due to Iran’s interferences in our affairs and its fear that the Kurdistan Region might become a platform to its foes, we find ourselves in an imposed reality from which we cannot extricate ourselves.
The correct policy is to deal with this realistically. We should not the mistake made by the Arabs who were not ready to deal with the reality of Israel. That is why their problems persist. If we want to peacefully pass this sensitive phase, we should recognize that Iran holds the key to these regional problems. That is why we need correct and friendly relations with Iran.
However, correct and friendly relations do not mean surrendering to Iran, as portrayed by some politicians and analysts. It is keeping the balance between Iran and the region. The Kurdistan Region poses no danger to Iran if it does not join its foes or becomes a part of its problems. The Kurdistan Region was important to Iran before the emergence of the Islamic State (ISIS). Iran had eyes on Kurdistan turning it into a passage corridor to reach Syria and Lebanon.
Iran does not need Kurdistan now for this purpose. It has turned the territory between Diala and Nineveh to reach out to these two countries.
Iran does not want to be a foe to the Kurdistan Region as it wishes to change the Iraqi identity to Shiite. It has been doing this over the past fourteen years. The ISIS war hastened this process, and the Sunnis are no longer an impediment to this.
The obstacle is the existence of the Kurds in Iraq. Realizing this aim will be more difficult if Kurds stay as part of Iraq.
An independent Kurdistan will therefore be in the interests of Iran if Iran is sure that Kurdistan will not be turned into a platform for its foes to operate and become part of the regional power struggle. The independence of Kurdistan is equivalent to turning the Iraqi identity into Shiite.
But Iran is now upset with Kurdistan and doubts that Kurdistan will be impartial. It thinks that Kurdistan is about to be part of the current against Iran.
The Kurdistan Region will not benefit from become part of these regional power struggles. It should try to be impartial. It should not take sides, whether that of Iran or its foes. Although keeping this balance is a bit difficult. But this can be achieved through proper politics without Kurdistan becoming an index to any country.
We have to bear in mind that even the most hostile countries to Iran are willing to deal with Iran in any way. That is why we should not make Iran an enemy of the Kurds for the sake of these countries.
Nowadays there is political imbalance. Kurds are about to be made part of the problems. Kurdistan has now been turned into a gold plate for Turkey. Iran certainly does not like this. The Kurdistan Region should take into consideration mutual interests between both, and this is not impossible. There have recently been talks of Kurdish oil pipes going through Iran, just like the ones going through Turkey. This will be an important step to strike a balance and reassuring Iran. It is better for Kurdistan not to put all its eggs in a basket.
The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rudaw.
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