Amid the extensive Turkish military incursion into the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI), the Islamic Republic of Iran is simultaneously working to disarm the Rojhilati (Iranian Kurdistan) Kurdish parties and extend its influence within the region.
As part of Iran’s effort to disarm Kurdish political parties, several Iranian Kurdish parties have been officially ordered by the security institutions of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) to vacate their former camps.
Hasan Rahman Panah, Deputy General Secretary of the Communist Party of Iran (Komala), announced that his party has been officially instructed to vacate their previous camps and relocate to new ones. He further commented:
“We have informed the officials of the Kurdistan Regional Government that we understand this order is a result of pressure from the Islamic Republic of Iran, but we had hoped the KRG would resist such pressure.”
Discussing the reasons behind this pressure, Rahman Panah added:
“The Islamic Republic of Iran seems intent on provoking tensions between the Rojhilati Kurdish parties and the Kurdistan Regional Government through these pressures. To prevent escalating conflicts, we have agreed to relocate to the new camps while continuing our political activities. However, if continuing our political activism becomes unfeasible, we will not comply with the order.”
Reports from Iraqi Kurdish media outlets indicate that Iraq’s National Security Advisor, Qasim al-Araji, has asked Ivan Faiq, the Iraqi Minister of Immigrant Affairs, to allocate the Surdash and Arabat camps near Sulaymaniyah (Silêmanî) for the resettlement of certain Rojhilati Kurdish parties.
Another Komala member, speaking anonymously, confirmed Rahman Panah’s statement, adding, “We have met with the security agencies in Sulaymaniyah and, given the circumstances, we are compelled to relocate.” Navid Mehravar, a member of the political office of another Komala branch, also confirmed this development, stating that all three branches of Komala have been informed that they must find accommodation in the new camps in the Surdash and Arabat regions.
The Kurdistan Democratic Party of Iran (KDPI) has not officially commented a response to the media. However, a senior party member mentioned that they have received no such order. Sources within Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence Service have also confirmed this.
The project to disarm and resettle Rojhilati Kurdish parties residing in Iraqi Kurdistan began after Ali Shamkhani’s visit and meeting with Qasim al-A’raji in 2023. As part of this initiative, steps have been taken to relocate these parties away from the official Iraq-Iran border and to close the main camp of the KDPI.
