From the Publication Series of KCCRC Kurdistan Conflict and Crisis Research Center
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1 From the publication series of KCCRC Kurdistan conflict and Crisis Research Center Iranian Influence and interference in Southern Kurdistan: Reasons and most potent and effective principles This article is an edited translation of the original in Kurdish. Translated by (Shkow Sherzad). From the publication series of KCCRC 2 Kurdistan conflict and Crisis Research Center All Rights Reserved for: Kurdistan Conflict and Crisis Research Center May 2018 3 Iranian Influence and interference in Southern Kurdistan: Reasons and most potent and effective principles Arkan Ahmad Jaff 3.2 - The political differences of Kurdistan .s Political Parties׳Region 3.3 - The economy of the Kurdistan Region Contents: 3.4 - The will and advantages for both sides to conduct bilateral relations. Introduction 3.5 - Nationalism and the development of the idea of independence in the Kurdistan Region. Part 1 Historical relations between Kurds and Iran and the international relations strategy of the Islamic Summary: Republic of Iran Bilateral relations between the Kurds and Iran 1.1 - Kurdish territory and the deep and historical have deep roots dating back to pre-Christian roots of Kurdish and Iranian relations antiquity. Over this time relations between the 1.2 - International relations strategy of the two sides have experienced periods of increased Islamic Republic of Iran and decreased ties. Iran throughout its history has attempted to keep its bilateral relations with the Kurds active and worked to enhance its power over the region at all costs. Part 2 After the First World War and the splitting of s geography and Kurdistan into four constituent parts, three parts׳The status of Iraqi Kurdistan diplomacy and its impact on Iranian influence in of Kurdish territory fell outside the state of Iran. Iraqi Kurdistan Nevertheless, given the vast border Iran has with Iraq it has always attempted to maintain bilateral s geography and the relations with the Iraqi Kurds so that it can use׳Iraqi Kurdistan - 2.1 s security belt the ties as an advantage when facing off against׳boundaries of Iran 2.2 - Relations between the Kurdistan Region Iraq. Iran has been successful to a great extent and the Iraqi government in its strategic objectives in regards to the Iraqi 2.3 - Relations between the Kurdistan Region Kurds. For example, it was able to use the Iraqi and the Iranian opposition. Kurds to apply pressure on the former Iraqi 2.4 - Relations between the Kurdistan Region regime to settle border issues in the 1975 Algiers and states that present a threat to the Islamic Agreement. Republic of Iran. The success of the Islamic Revolution of Iran in 1979 and the subsequent break out of the Iran-Iraq war forced a distinct period of bilateral relations Part 3 between Iran and the Iraqi Kurds. The 1991 Iraqi Internal politics and the political space for Iranian Kurdish revolt against the Iraqi government influence and interference in the Kurdistan furthered this recent period in bilateral relations Region with Iran and continued until the collapse of the athist regime in 2003. The destruction׳The foundational condition of Iraqi Iraqi Ba - 3.1 Kurdistan and the political space available to the of the former Iraqi system ushered in the latest s political parties. period of ties between the two sides. Although׳Kurdistan Region 4 this period has faced numerous challenges principles and reasons behind the strengthening and obstacles, it has developed into a fruitful of Iranian influence in the Kurdish Region of Iraq relationship in which strength and power over the are in large part due to the actions of the Iraqi s status׳s current status Kurds themselves. For that reason, Iran׳Iraqi Kurdish territory mark Iran in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq and therefore has and its ability for control in Iraqi Kurdistan are awarded the Iranians a position whereby they more to do with these policies and underlying can influence the political direction of the Iraqi reasons than reasoning owing to some distinct Kurds. historical period. Hence, whenever and wherever The guiding principle of this research is there is a strengthening of the underlying causes s׳historical analysis and the collection of data via for Iranian influence in Iraqi Kurdistan Iran dependence on books, magazines and internet status and power in Kurdish territory in turn sources. The questions that this paper is aiming increases, and vice-versa. That is why this paper to answer are the following; aims to discuss the reasons and principles behind 1. What are the most potent and effective Iranian influence in Iraqi Kurdistan. principles of Iranian influence and interference This paper is important because it will inform in the Kurdistan Region? readers of the reasons and origins behind Iranian s power in influence in Iraqi Kurdistan in general and in׳To what extent does it affect Iran .2 the Kurdish region and does it open the door for particular that of the Islamic Republic of Iran. further political interference by Iran. The paper will also provide a more precise 3. To what extent do these strong and active picture for politicians and academics alike to principles impact the bilateral relationship review their political policies towards regional between the two sides. and international states on the one hand, and 4. Can Iranian influence and interference in the develop their understanding of the internal Kurdistan Region be ended? reasons driving the phenomenon on the other. The paper is working on the hypothesis that This understanding will aid decision makers in its attempts to find ample opportunity for to increase, strengthen and improve bilateral bilateral relations the Kurdistan Region itself has relations where the causes of Iranian influence provided the groundwork for Iran to achieve its owing to Iraqi Kurdish policy are advantageous s and correct those policies that disadvantage׳objectives readily. Hence, the Kurdistan region efforts in strengthening bilateral ties are critical bilateral ties. With this objective in mind the reasons for the continued strengthening of the guiding principle of this research is historical relationship between the two sides on the one analysis and the collection of data via dependence hand and the enhancement of Iranian influence on various sources. and interference in Iraqi Kurdish territory on the The paper divides between an introduction, three other. parts and a conclusion. The first part is titled, Key terms: Kurd, Iran, Kurdistan Region of «Historical relations between the Kurds and Iraq, Islamic Republic of Iran, Iranian desire of Iran and the international relations strategy of power in the Kurdistan Region, The reasons for the Islamic Republic of Iran». This part further Iranian political influence and interference in the divides into two sections; firstly discussing the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. Kurdish territory and the historical origins od bilateral relations between the Kurds and Iran and secondly debating the international relations Introduction: strategy of the Islamic Republic of Iran. s Pahlavi period and that of the The second part of the paper is titled, «The׳In both Iran Islamic Republic the country has always kept geographic and diplomatic relations status of a close eye on the revolutionary movement in the Kurds and its impact on Iranian influence Iraqi Kurdistan and has continually worked to in the Kurdistan Region.» With the second part increase its influence in Iraqi Kurdish territory. In further dividing into four subsections; the first its dealings with the Kurdish Region of Iraq Iran subsection debates the geographic status of the has worked to promote its interests. In truth, the Kurdistan Region of Iraq and its importance to 5 s security belt. The second and most likely the first peoples to set foot on׳the borders of Iran subsection explores the relations between the Persian soil. (3) These historians also point Kurdistan Region and the Iraqi government. The out that the Kurds themselves believe that third subsection discusses relations between the in a historical perspective they are natives Kurdistan Region and the Iranian opposition. of Iran and integral members of the Persian And the last subsection concludes this part of the civilisation. (4) paper by examining the connections between the Furthermore, Linguists note that the Kurdish Kurdistan Region with states that present a threat language which is Indo-European at source to the Islamic Republic of Iran. is later a branch of the Farsi language group. The last section is titled «Internal politics and Iranian linguists use this fact to support their the political space for Iranian influence and case that Kurdish and Farsi are one of the same interference in the Kurdistan Region». The third and that the two languages do not have separate part of the paper then divides into five further and distinct roots. To further this position, subsections studying first, the foundational these scholars explain that century-old sources s political that talk about the Kurdish people rely upon׳condition of the Kurdistan Region parties and the political space available to them. on Farsi (Iranian language) and that early Second, The political differences of Kurdistan sources produced by the Kurdish people also «s Political Parties. Third the economy use Farsi. They point to the «Sharafnama׳Region of the Kurdistan Region.Fourth, the will and by Sharafkhan Bitlis as an obvious example. advantages for both sides to conduct bilateral These scholars believe that the promotion of relations.Lastly, the notion of nationalism and Kurdish as a separate language to Farsi began the ideological development of independence in at the end of the 19th century as one of the first the Kurdistan Region. signs of Kurdish nationalism. (5) The hope is that this paper benefits readers, and In this regard, Richard W. Cottam observed it is also important to mention that no research is that «Those Iranians that have a strong free from criticism.