Patriotic Union of Kurdistan’s (PUK) leader, Bafel Talabani, has engaged in discussions with Iranian authorities in Tehran regarding the potential extension of the 19 September deadline set by Iran for the disarmament of Kurdish-Iranian opposition factions in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, reported Suleymaniyah-based Hawlati News.
The news contradicts prior assertions by Iranian officials, who had previously asserted that Talabani’s visit was not related to the disarmament of opposition groups.
Hawlati further reported that the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) may, on the other hand, have stipulated conditions for Iran’s demands to be met, in an attempt to force Tehran to exert pressure on Baghdad to address critical issues of dispute, including on oil-related matters and the disbursement of salaries.
Meanwhile, during a press conference in Tehran on Wednesday, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian declared that Iraq, in forthcoming days, would undertake additional measures in alignment with the security agreement. He underscored the urgency of the situation by stating; “Even granting one hour to these groups jeopardizes the security of Iraq, Iran, and the Iraqi Kurdistan region.”
These remarks followed his meeting with Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein, from which he emphasised that Baghdad remains committed to this framework and aims to achieve the agreed objectives.
For an extended period, Iran has consistently insisted that Iraq must either expel or disarm Kurdish opposition groups situated within Iraq’s semi-autonomous Kurdistan region. Iran’s Revolutionary Guards have carried out a series of operations targeting these bases.
Last month, the Iranian Foreign Ministry disclosed that Baghdad had committed to supporting the disarmament of Kurdish-Iranian opposition groups within Iraq’s Kurdistan Region. The agreement between the two countries mandated the closure of opposition facilities and their relocation to alternative sites by 19 September.
