Researcher, politician: sensitive phase in Iran requires conscious Kurdish alliance; political action

Questions are increasing about the role of Iran’s internal components, particularly the Kurds in Eastern Kurdistan in any potential transformations, amid political and military tensions, international pressure, and internal instability following more than ten days of war with Israel and the United States.

In this context, Kurdish researcher and politician Zaki Sheikho commented on the overall developments, affirming that the Kurdish issue may enter a new phase amid the ongoing transformations. He stressed the need to unify the Kurdish political stance and prepare politically and diplomatically for the various possible scenarios ahead.

Roots of the Kurdish issue after World War I

Sheikho said that during World War I, international agreements were concluded between major powers and the states occupying Kurdistan, resulting in the division of Kurdistan into several parts without granting the Kurdish people their rights or the right to self-determination. He noted that those powers viewed the Kurds merely as tools in their conflicts and wars.

He added that more than a century of Kurdish struggle on their land has helped solidify their political and popular presence at various levels, noting that they now possess clear political and diplomatic weight in regional and international equations.

He also emphasized that the Kurdish democratic experience and its acceptance of ethnic and religious pluralism have strengthened the Kurds’ position, making them influential actors in the processes of change in the Middle East and capable of pursuing self-determination and building a future project on their land.

In this context, Sheikho noted that the United States, as one of the influential powers in the international system, has come to recognize the existence of the Kurds and their role in the region. At the same time, he stressed that Kurds must act according to their national interests and plan their political future on that basis.

The growing Kurdish role in regional equations

He explained that the Kurds are no longer as they once were without allies or with their cause marginalized. Instead, they have become capable of playing an influential role internationally through political and diplomatic efforts and maintaining an active presence in different parts of Kurdistan, particularly in Eastern Kurdistan in Iran, within a new political project that may emerge if changes occur in the Iranian system.

The importance of Kurdish unity in Eastern Kurdistan

Regarding internal Kurdish affairs, Sheikho stressed that an alliance among Kurdish forces in Eastern Kurdistan (Rojhilat) would give the Kurds significant political weight. He noted that many of the problems the Kurds faced historically were the result of the absence of unity among them.

He emphasized that unity in Kurdish ranks and political stance is a fundamental step in strengthening the Kurdish position regionally and internationally.

He added that unifying Kurdish political decision-making and overcoming party disputes would strengthen Kurdish power and give it greater influence in the coming phase, especially if major transformations occur in Iran. He noted that party divisions have often weakened the Kurdish position and increased the suffering of the Kurdish people.

Developments in Iran and potential opportunities for the Kurdish issue

Regarding regional developments, Sheikho said that the war currently taking place in Iran is not of the Kurds’ making, but the Kurds have a long history of struggle against the Iranian regime, which has not recognized the rights of national components.

He added that the attacks carried out by the United States and Israel against Iran may open new possibilities for the Kurdish issue and could provide an opportunity for the Kurds to fill any potential vacuum in Kurdish regions.

He stressed that Kurds have worked for decades to achieve such gains in response to the aspirations of their people and the sacrifices of their martyrs who suffered from repression and persecution by the Iranian regime.

In this regard, Sheikho emphasized the need for the recently formed Kurdish alliance, consisting of six Kurdish parties to adopt a unified decision and act according to the requirements of the current stage. He warned of the possibility that Kurdish regions could become arenas of conflict.

He also called for preparations to protect Kurdish areas from any threats or potential massacres, pointing to attacks that targeted Southern Kurdistan despite the absence of any direct threat from it to Iran.

Call for caution and diplomatic action

He added that the current phase carries significant risks and that it cannot yet be said that the Iranian regime will fall, given the nature of its political and security structure built over decades. This requires the Kurds to monitor developments cautiously and prepare for various possible scenarios.

He also called for avoiding being drawn into sectarian conflicts within Iran, warning of attempts by some parties to ignite strife between the Iranian people and its different components, which could lead to civil war. He stressed that dealing with this issue requires a high degree of wisdom and political sensitivity.

Future prospects and building a strong Kurdish alliance

Sheikho added that securing the rights of the Kurdish people requires unity of Kurdish decision-making at various levels political, media, and diplomatic along with adopting a clear and transparent discourse that reflects the aspirations of the Kurdish people.

He also called for political and diplomatic work in coordination with other Iranian opposition forces and international actors to ensure that Kurdish rights are secured in any potential transitional phase.

Regarding the roots of Kurdish struggle, Sheikho noted that the Kurdish movement in Eastern Kurdistan extends back decades, beginning with the movement of Simko Shikak, passing through the experience of the Republic of Mahabad, and continuing with the establishment of opposition parties and armed forces. He said this struggle reflects the will of an ancient people living on their historical land in the face of dictatorship.

He stressed the need to build unified and strong administrative and political institutions capable of managing Kurdish regions in the event of any political or security vacuum, while strengthening coordination with opposition forces and secular intellectuals in Iran who recognize Kurdish rights.

In conclusion, Sheikho called for strengthening and expanding the Kurdish alliance to include various Kurdish parties, overcoming internal differences, and establishing a joint coordination chamber to manage the upcoming phase. He also emphasized the importance of adopting dialogue and democracy with all components to build a new Iran based on recognition of the rights of all nationalities.

He concluded by saying that the Kurds have often been victims of conflicts among international powers and have been used as a card in regional wars. However, the current phase may represent a historic opportunity to achieve real political gains for the Kurdish people more than a century after the Sykes–Picot Agreement, and to become a strategic part of the transformations taking place in the Middle East.

ANHA