At a Glance

• Iraq says it is coordinating with Iran over Iranian Kurdish opposition groups based in Iraq.

• Security discussions with Turkey continue over the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).

• Baghdad says foreign armed groups cannot use Iraqi territory to launch attacks against neighboring countries.

• The government denies the presence of Houthi bases or operational centers in Iraq.

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The Iraqi government says it is maintaining security coordination with Iran and Turkey over armed groups operating on Iraqi territory, as Baghdad reiterates its commitment to preventing attacks against neighboring countries from within its borders.

Key Statements and Focus Area

• Security Coordination: “Baghdad is coordinating directly with Tehran to resolve the file of Iranian Kurdish groups operating on Iraqi soil.” — Haider al-Aboudi, Iraqi government spokesperson.

• Regional Security: Abboudi said dialogue with Ankara remains ongoing over the presence and status of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) in Iraq.

• Constitutional Compliance and Sovereignty: The government says the presence of foreign armed groups on Iraqi territory violates the constitution and that Iraqi land must not be used to launch attacks against neighboring states.

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Al-Aboudi also addressed the closure of the Sheib border crossing, attributing it to technical and technological unpreparedness. He rejected reports of a Houthi military presence in Iraq, saying the group has no bases, headquarters, or operational centers in the country.

The status of Iranian Kurdish opposition factions remains a sensitive issue in Baghdad’s relations with Tehran. Several groups, including the Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan (PDKI), the Free Life Party of Kurdistan (PJAK), Komala of Toilers of Kurdistan, the Organization of Iranian Kurdistan Struggle (Khabat), and the Kurdistan Freedom Party (PAK), have been involved in political and security developments concerning Iranian Kurdish opposition activity.

Security agreements between Iraq and Iran have placed pressure on these groups to restrict their activities near the border and relocate facilities away from sensitive border areas. However, the positions of the parties differ over the measures required, including relocation, restrictions on armed activity, and demands for the groups to leave Iraq.

Iran has also carried out drone and missile strikes against sites associated with Iranian Kurdish opposition groups in the Kurdistan Region. Such attacks have affected locations around Koya and other areas, raising security concerns for residents and families living near camps. Specific claims about individual strikes and their consequences require confirmation from reliable, independently verifiable sources.

FYI

Iraq shares borders with Iran and Turkey and has faced longstanding security challenges involving armed groups operating in border regions. Baghdad has sought to balance its relations with neighboring countries with its responsibility to uphold Iraqi sovereignty and constitutional provisions.

The Kurdistan Region has hosted Iranian Kurdish opposition groups and their families for years. Their presence, alongside repeated cross-border attacks and competing security demands, has made the issue a recurring point of tension between Baghdad, the Kurdistan Regional Government, and Tehran.

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