Iran-Iraq Border Deal to Require Disarming Iraqi Kurds | Photo: Reuters

As per a border security agreement signed between Iran and Iraq this March, the agreed deadline for disarming and relocating Kurdish groups inside Iraq away from the shared border is today.

Iranian officials have emphasised the deadline will not be extended, and that they are prepared to resume the use of force on dissident groups they regard as terrorist actors . Tehran launched such attacks regularly throughout 2022.

The relocation effort began months prior, although it is a huge undertaking, since Iraq’s autonomous Kurdish region is home to several Iranian Kurdish factions. Moreover, many groups hold small arms, making disarmament a labour-intensive and burdensome process.

Iraq believes they have upheld the agreement by proactively engaging in population resettlement and disarmament. They hope this will prevent escalation and would like to see Iranian authorities cease from threatening use of violence inside Iraqi territory.

Given the difficulty of the relocation request, it is likely that Iran will claim Iraq has not upheld its side of the deal, giving Tehran justification for renewed attacks. Consequently, expect to see Iranian-Iraqi relations sour, as Iraq bristles against foreign incursions on its soil, as well as retaliation by Kurdish organisations against Iranian violence.