During talks in Tehran with Iraqi Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi emphasized the importance of collaboration between the central authorities of Iraq and the Kurdish leadership to prevent Israel and other anti-Iranian elements from conducting operations against the Islamic Republic.
"We expect both the central government of Iraq and the government of Iraqi Kurdistan to take effective measures to prevent the use of their territories by hostile elements targeting Iran," stated Raisi, as reported by his press office. He urged for "the disarmament and expulsion of all such elements to ensure regional stability". Raisi emphasized that Iraq's security is intrinsically linked to Iran's security.
Iran has long voiced apprehensions about the presence of groups within Iraqi Kurdistan allegedly aiming to destabilize the Iranian government. Notably, Iran identifies the Kurdish branch of the Iranian Communist Party "Komala" as a terrorist organization. Furthermore, Tehran accuses the Israeli intelligence agency "Mossad" of operating in Erbil and orchestrating terrorist activities targeting Iran.
The tensions escalated on January 16 when Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) launched ballistic missile strikes on Erbil, targeting what they described as "Mossad spy headquarters" and "terrorist sites." The IRGC cited recent terrorist attacks within Iran, including the deadly incident in Kerman on January 3, as the rationale for the strikes. However, Iraqi Kurdish leader Massoud Barzani dismissed the IRGC's claims, asserting that the strikes were an attempt to divert attention from Iran's internal issues.
The Arab League expressed dissatisfaction with Iran's justifications for the strikes and held the Islamic Republic responsible for the escalation and its consequences. The incident underscores the complex dynamics in the region and the delicate balance of power between Iran, Iraq, and the Kurdish authorities.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
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Based on materials from TASS