Iranian Kurdish opposition groups skeptical about Israeli ‘regime change’ goal

SULAYMANIYAH — Iranian Kurdish opposition groups told 964media they are not involved in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran, saying their focus remains on civil and political struggle within Iran.

Israel and Iran have exchanged airstrikes for six consecutive days after Israel launched attacks Friday on Iranian nuclear and military sites. Iran retaliated with missile and drone strikes on Israeli targets.

The Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan (PDKI), Komala Party, and Kurdistan Free Life Party (PJAK) are major Iranian Kurdish opposition groups, each advocating for Kurdish rights within Iran through political or armed means.

PDKI said in a statement Iran’s internal crisis stems from its “militarist nature and destabilizing policies,” accusing the regime of exploiting external threats to silence dissent. “What is happening now in Iran is a direct outcome of the regime’s policies,” it said, adding regime change is “the first condition” for saving the country but without endorsing Israeli actions.

Mohammed Nazif Qadri, head of the Relations Office of PDKI, said regime change must be democratic: “Any power transition in Iran must be based on democratic foundations and the will of the Iranian people. Any alternative that fails to guarantee democracy and national rights will fall into the same trap.”

Qadri emphasized the PDKI is uninvolved militarily or politically in the conflict. “Any movement we make must be strategic and directed at securing Kurdish national rights,” he said. “Military action now, without a clear objective, could create unnecessary complications.”

He noted the difference in goals between PDKI and Israel: “Israel is focused on dismantling Iran’s nuclear program, while we are working to secure the rights of our nation and build a democratic society within Iran. All of our activities align with the demands of our people.”

Asked if Israeli strikes could lead to regime change, Qadri denied coordination: “There has been no coordination between us and Israel or the U.S. We were neither informed of the attack nor consulted.” He stressed their struggle is internal, adding, “This is a war between states. But our fight for democracy and national rights belongs inside Iranian society.”

A senior member of another Kurdish opposition party, requesting anonymity, also said no coordination meetings have occurred since the strikes. “There have been no movements across the border into Iran. The situation is too uncertain, and it is not the time for military escalation,” he said.

Another local military commander told 964media, “Israel doesn’t seem to want regime change in Iran. If they did they would break Evin Prison in Tehran and similar prisons in other cities. That’s why we should stay out of this.”

Evin Prison, located in northern Tehran, is Iran’s most notorious detention facility, housing political prisoners, journalists, activists, and dual nationals.

In March 2023, Iraq and Iran signed a border security agreement requiring the disarming and relocation of Iranian Kurdish opposition groups away from the border.

The Komala Party said in a statement, “The current hostilities between Israel and Iran risk spiraling into a broader disaster…Our opposition to this war is not only a moral position but a conscious effort to prevent further regional collapse.”

Idris Abdi, a Komala central committee member, said their efforts remain civilian. “We view this war as destructive. We have no role in it…This crisis is a product of the Iranian regime’s actions, and it’s the people who are paying the price,” he said. “Real change can only happen from within.”

Abdi warned military action now would lead to harsher repression. “Our focus remains on civil society organizing. If conditions shift, the Peshmerga could support people’s defense efforts, but we are not in that phase,” he said.

Komala’s secretary-general Abdullah Mohtadi separately told BBC Persian, “We do not support any external military campaign against Iran.”