On Tuesday, CNN reported, citing sources, that Iranian Kurdish opposition forces may participate in a ground operation in western Iran in the coming days. The US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) is allegedly working to arm Kurdish forces with the aim of fomenting a popular uprising in Iran, the report noted. On Thursday, The Washington Post newspaper reported, citing officials, that US President Donald Trump had offered air defense assistance and logistical support to Kurdish forces in Iran to back them at attempting to take control of the western regions of the country.
"These reports are completely false and baseless. Today, there are no militarized Kurdish opposition factions; they have become political parties," the source said.
The source noted, however, that the leaders of these parties currently reside in the United States and some European countries.
"Members of these factions surrendered their weapons and signed pledges not to embarrass the Kurdistan Regional Government, not to attack Iran, and to respect the security agreement between the Baghdad and Tehran governments," the source added.
He recalled that the weapons were handed over to the Kurdistan Regional Government, which, in turn, handed them over to the Iraqi government.
"There is military cooperation between Erbil and Washington regarding the restructuring of the Peshmerga militia forces, but even assuming the US made such a request, I don't think the Kurdistan Regional Government would agree to it, violating the constitution," the source said.
On February 28, the United States and Israel launched strikes on targets in Iran, including in Tehran, causing damage and civilian casualties. Iran retaliated with strikes against Israeli territory, as well as against US military bases across the Middle East. The strikes against Iran occurred despite Oman-brokered talks between Washington and Tehran on the Iranian nuclear issue in Geneva.