Tensions rises between Iraq, Iran over security agreement
ERBIL, KRI, Iraq (North Press) – During a meeting between Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein and his Iranian counterpart, Hossein Amirabdollahian, on Wednesday, they discussed the security agreement regarding the Iranian Kurdish opposition in Iraqi territories.
This coincided with Iranian media reports indicating the deployment of military convoys to the borders with the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI).
Amirabdollahian announced during a press conference with his Iraqi counterpart in the capital, Tehran, that Iraq has taken positive measures to remove armed groups from the border area, which Iran considers a threat.
Amirabdollahian stated that the Iraqi authorities have taken initial steps to remove what he described as “terrorist groups,” referring to the Kurdish opposition, from areas near the Iranian border and relocate them deep into Iraqi territory in an attempt to disarm them.
He announced that the next phase will be fully implemented in the coming days.
In parallel with this diplomatic move, Iranian reports emerged indicating that Iranian forces are heading towards the Iraqi border.
Iranian Tasnim news agency said in a statement, “With the approaching deadline for the Iranian ultimatum for Iraq to disarm the armed groups in the KRI, the dismantling of the headquarters of those groups began this morning.”
Iran refers to these armed groups as Kurdish opposition parties, including Komala Party, PAK, the Kurdistan Democratic Party, and PJAK, which use border areas as headquarters.
These headquarters were targeted by a series of missile attacks in 2022, shortly after the killing of Mahsa Amini by Iranian morality police on September 16, 2022. This incident led to widespread protests that continued until the end of the same year.
In late August, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Nasser Kanaani stated in his weekly press conference that Iraq has pledged to disarm those groups and evacuate their headquarters, indicating that the deadline for fulfilling these commitments is September 22.
If this agreement is not complied with, Iran “will act according to its responsibilities within its security framework,” implying the possibility of military intervention.
Tasnim Agency reported that these groups will be completely disarmed, stating that if not, they will return to the previous situation, and Iran will fulfill its duty in protecting the country’s security.
The agency quoted its sources as saying that a part of the armored equipment of the ground forces of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has been sent to the region.
During the meeting between the Iraqi and Iranian ministers, they discussed the full implementation of the security agreement between the two sides by Iraq.
The President of the KRI, Nechervan Barzani, stated on Tuesday that since the region is part of the federal government of Iraq, Erbil is committed to agreements and that the KRI refuses to be a launching pad for threatening neighboring countries. He expressed his hope that this issue would be resolved through dialogue and diplomacy.