Kurdish opposition activities on Iraq-Iran border ‘intolerable:’ Raisi tells Sudani

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The presence of Iranian-Kurdish opposition groups along Iraq’s border with Iran is “intolerable” and a threat against Iran’s national security, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi told Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani on Saturday, nine days before a deadline to disarm the groups. 

Tehran has long accused the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) of harboring opposition groups it considers “terrorists” and allowing them to use the border areas as a zone to launch attacks against the Islamic republic. Iranian armed forces have carried out many attacks on the alleged positions of these groups, including using both ballistic missiles and drones. 

“Any activity by anti-Iran separatist terrorist groups is regarded as a measure against the security of the region,” Raisi told Sudani in a phone call, calling such activities “intolerable.” 

Iran has repeatedly warned that the September 19 ultimatum provided to Baghdad to disarm the Kurdish opposition groups will not be extended. In July, Chief of Staff of Iran’s armed forces Major General Mohammad Bagheri said “our operations against these groups will definitely reoccur more severely” if the deadline passes and Baghdad does not meet Tehran’s demands. 

Iranian-Kurdish opposition groups based in the Kurdistan Region - namely the Kurdistan Democratic Party of Iran (KDPI), Komala, Free Life Party of Kurdistan (PJAK), and the Kurdistan Freedom Party (PAK) - have been accused of fueling the nationwide protest movement in Iran last September and inciting unrest in the country. The groups, struggling for greater rights for Iran’s marginalised Kurdish population, have fought an on-and-off war with the Islamic Republic.

The KRG, which has cordial relations with Tehran, has on several occasions called on neighboring countries and armed Kurdish groups to not use the Region’s land as an arena to settle scores.