Barzani: “Conditions for a Negotiated Solution of the Kurdish Issue in Iran are Nonexistent”

In an interview with Voice of America’s Persian service, Nechirvan Barzani, Prime Minister of southern (Iraqi) Kurdistan, rejected Iranian claims about Saudi military support for Kurdish organizations in eastern (Iranian) Kurdistan. Barzani also said that “conditions for a negotiated solution of the Kurdish issue in Iran are nonexistent.” He expressed southern Kurdistan’s willingness to act as mediator to resolve the Kurdish issue in Iran if conditions for a peaceful solution materialize.

Regarding claims by Iranian officials that the Saudi Consulate in Hawler (Erbil) has provided military support for PDKI, Prime Minister Barzani said that such claims are “baseless.”

”Like other countries, Saudi Arabia has a consulate in [southern Kurdistan] and performs its tasks within the framework of a consular protocol it has with Iraq and does not conduct any specific activities pertaining to military training of any organization”, he added.

Barzani also said that Iran’s response to PDKI’s activities in eastern Kurdistan has been out of proportion and expressed his concern over Iranian military threats against southern Kurdistan.

“At the same time, I wish to take this opportunity to thank the Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan and Komala and other parties for considering the interests of the Kurdistan region as well as the security of our region”, Barzani added.