• Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has warned of “terrorist movements” on the country’s border with Iraq in a call with the leader of the Iraqi-Kurdish political party amid reports the US is in talks with Kurdish forces in a bid to arm them and foment an uprising in Iran.

Iran’s foreign minister speaks to Iraqi Kurdish region’s Barzani

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has discussed the US-Israel attacks against Iran with Nechirvan Barzani, the president of the semi-autonomous Kurdish region of Iraq.

In a post on X, Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Barzani “offered his condolences for the martyrdom” of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and a number of Iranian citizens as a result of the “criminal attacks launched by America and Israel against Iran”.

Earlier today, Araghchi had warned of “terrorist movements” on Iran’s border with Iraq in a call with the Iraqi-Kurdish political party leader.

Blasts rock Iraq’s Sulaimaniyah

Footage shows explosions in several locations in the northern province, located in the autonomous Kurdistan region.

According to local media, at least four explosions were heard in the province, near the areas of Arabat, Zarkuiz and Surdash. The attacks targeted the headquarters of the Kurdistan Toilers Association, or Komala, an Iranian Kurdish armed group in Iraq.

It was not immediately clear who was responsible for the attacks.

It comes after Iran warned of “terrorist movements” along its border with Iraq amid reports that the US was in contact with Kurdish groups there to foment rebellion against Tehran.

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Translation of the post on X: According to a report received by Hengaw, on the evening of Wednesday, March 3, 2025, one of the Komala Party of the Toilers of Kurdistan camps, located in Surdash in the Dokan district of Sulaimaniyah province, was targeted by missile attacks from the IRGC. Hengaw has learned that this attack resulted in no casualties.

 

Iran attacks ‘anti-Iran separatist forces’ in Iraq’s Kurdish region

Iran’s Press TV is reporting that Iranian forces have launched an operation targeting “anti-Iran separatist forces” in the semi-autonomous Kurdish region of neighbouring Iraq.

Video clips posted on X by Press TV showed explosions lighting up the night sky during the operation.

The new outlet did not specify the location of the strikes.

Earlier, we reported that multiple blasts occurred in the province of Sulaimaniyah in northern Iraq. Local sources said the attacks targeted the headquarters of the Kurdistan Toilers Association, or Komala, an Iranian Kurdish armed group in Iraq.

The attacks come amid reports that Iranian Kurdish armed groups have consulted with the US in recent days about whether, and how, to attack Iran’s security forces in the western part of the country.

According to the Reuters news agency, the Iranian Kurdish coalition of groups based on the ‌Iran-Iraq border has been training to mount such an attack in hopes of weakening the country’s military.

Earlier, Iran’s Tasnim news agency denied reports of armed Kurdish fighters crossing into Iran from Iraq.

Iran claims preemptive operation on ‘separatist groups’ plotting to breach border

Iran’s Intelligence Ministry claims it worked with the IRGC to preemptively strike against US and Israeli-backed separatist groups who were plotting to breach Iran’s western borders and wage “terrorist attacks”.

In a statement carried by the Tasnim news agency, the ministry said the Iranian forces hit many of the separatists’ positions and destroyed their facilities, “inflicting heavy losses on them”.

It added that Iranian forces are cooperating ‌with “noble Kurds” to thwart the “Israeli-American” plan to attack ‌Iranian ‌soil.

Earlier, Iran’s Press TV reported that Iranian forces had launched an operation against “anti-Iran separatist forces” in the semi-autonomous Kurdish region of neighbouring Iraq.

Kurdish region must not become part of any conflict, military escalation: Barzani

Nechirvan Barzani, president of the semi-autonomous Kurdish region of Iraq, says it “must not become part of any conflict or military escalation that harms the lives and security of our fellow citizens”.

“Protecting the territorial integrity of the Kurdistan Region and our constitutional achievements can only be achieved through the unity, cohesion, and shared national responsibility of all political forces and components in Kurdistan,” he added.

Government of Iraq’s Kurdish region says it is not part of any campaign to expand war

The Kurdish regional government has denied involvement in any plans to arm groups and send them into Iran, following reports that Kurdish fighters have consulted with the US about potentially waging attacks in western Iran.

In a statement cited by Reuters news agency, the spokesperson for the regional government said it has no part in any effort to expand the ongoing war or inflame regional tensions.

We reported earlier that Nechirvan Barzani, president of the semi-autonomous region, said it “must not become part of any conflict or military escalation that harms the lives and security of our fellow citizens”.

Oil tanker attacked in Iraqi port of Khor al-Zubair

An Iraqi security source has said that a boat struck an oil tanker flying the flag of the Bahamas in the Iraqi port of Khor al-Zubair, causing damage and an oil spill.

Iran targets Kurdish groups in Iraq, begins wave of attacks on Israel

Iranian forces have launched an operation against Kurdish groups in their semi-autonomous region of neighbouring Iraq.

Iran’s ⁠Intelligence ⁠Ministry confirmed that it attacked posts ⁠of “separatist groups” who intended to enter through ⁠western borders, adding that they sustained heavy losses.

The Iranian ministry ⁠statement, which ⁠was carried by state media, said Iranian forces are cooperating ‌with “noble Kurds” to thwart the “Israeli-American” plan to attack ‌Iranian ‌soil.

Iran’s military claims drone attack on US forces in Iraq

Iran’s military says it has attacked a base hosting US troops in Erbil in northern Iraq using drones, the semi-official Tasnim news agency is reporting.

“Significant damage” was caused in the attack, the agency reported.

Trump backs Kurdish offensive in Iran

US President Donald Trump has said he supports Kurdish forces launching an offensive against Iran, in comments made during an interview with Reuters.

“I think it’s wonderful that they want to do that. I’d be all for it,” Trump said.

When asked whether the United States would provide air cover for such an operation, Trump declined to confirm, saying, “I can’t tell you that.”

He added that if Kurdish forces chose to move forward with an attack, their objective would be “to win”.

The comments come as Iranian Kurdish militias have held discussions with the United States in recent days about whether and how to attack Iranian security forces in western Iran, according to unnamed sources, cited by Reuters.

The groups are based along the Iran-Iraq border in Iraq’s semi-autonomous Kurdish region.

Iran’s army will confront Kurdish separatism, Pezeshkian warns

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has expressed his gratitude to the “proud and honorable” Kurdish people who have “stood by Iran”.

In a post on X, the president said he shared the grief of Kurdish families who have lost loved ones in the US-Israel war on Iran.

But officials and Iran’s army, he added, as “guardians of security, are duty-bound to decisively confront any separatist activities”.

US President Donald Trump earlier told Reuters he supported Kurdish forces launching an offensive against Iran, as Iranian Kurdish militias and US officials have reportedly discussed potential future military operations.

‘Iranian regime will not last much longer’: Komala Party of Kurdistan official says

Amjad Hussein Panahi, head of the political bureau of the Komala Party of Kurdistan, says that he believes “the Iranian regime” will soon come to an end.

“The Iranian regime needs time to collapse, and we, as part of the Women’s Revolution for a Free Life, are working towards that with other nations,” Panahi said.

“The regime is crumbling before the international community and is breathing its last. In my view, the Iranian regime will not last much longer.”

Pahani said that “so far, our political program, as part of the coalition of Iranian Kurdish parties, does not include any separatist projects”.

He also laid out what his party is striving for: “We want our rights guaranteed in a decentralized Iran that ensures the rights of Kurds, Baloch, Arabs, Persians and all other groups. We want an end to executions, and we want to study in our language and remain on our land within a free and democratic Iran where everyone feels safe.”

He said that the party has not received backing from the US, but “that the results will be greater and more welcome” should it join them in “an uprising to liberate our people from the oppressive Iranian regime”.

The Komala Party of Kurdistan is based in the Kurdish region of Iraq, primarily operating headquarters and camps near Sulaymaniyah.

Oilfield run by US firm hit in drone attack in Iraqi’s Kurdish region, sources say

A drone attack has struck an oilfield operated by a US firm in Dohuk in Iraq’s northern Kurdish region, causing a fire, security sources said.