Efforts for a 'Democratic Solution' to Kurdish Issues

Khalid Azizi, the leader of the 'Democratic Party of Kurdistan', spoke in an interview with Radio Farda about the party's plans and negotiations with the Islamic Republic of Iran. Recently, there were reports of clashes between the forces of the Democratic Party of Kurdistan and Iranian forces in the region. When asked if the Democratic Party has re-entered a military phase and what the reasons for these clashes were, Khalid Azizi stated that since the revolution, their military aim has been to resolve the Kurdish issue in Iran through dialogue with the central government. Unfortunately, he lamented, the Islamic Republic has not accepted their peaceful and friendly messages and imposed war on them. When this war was imposed on the Kurdish people, the Democratic Party and the Kurdish Peshmerga defended themselves. Therefore, it was not a war they chose to start. Throughout this time, they have tried to maintain a non-militarized atmosphere in Kurdistan. Azizi emphasized that they have not signed any ceasefire with the Islamic Republic, meaning that neither side has created legal commitments as a result of negotiations. Regarding recent clashes in Iranian Kurdistan, he noted their military presence there, stating that their Peshmerga forces are usually present but have been instructed not to attack Iranian Revolutionary Guard bases or military centers, even if attacked. He mentioned that there have been instances where Iranian forces attempted to provoke conflict, but they advised their forces to avoid engaging in war. Recently, as has been the case every year, the Democratic Party's forces were ambushed by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard and intelligence forces, leading to casualties on both sides. When asked about a previous statement regarding reconsidering a military phase, Azizi clarified that they do not intend to formally initiate military action against the Islamic Republic, but the military phase exists. They believe that the issues in Iranian Kurdistan, democracy in Iran, and the accountability of the Islamic Republic should be pursued through civil means and dialogue. Azizi also mentioned that the Iranian Minister of Intelligence recently stated that negotiations had taken place with the Democratic Party. He confirmed that such discussions occurred over a year ago, during which they shared their views on Kurdish issues and the broader Middle Eastern context. They proposed returning to the negotiations that existed after the Iranian Revolution regarding the Kurdish crisis and suggested that the Kurdish issue should be addressed outside of security frameworks. Azizi expressed that problems cannot be solved militarily and that the Iranian government should show goodwill by ending executions and imprisonments based on ideology, allowing for relative freedoms in Iran, particularly in Kurdistan. He noted that their negotiations did not continue as the Iranian side did not pursue them further. When asked about their relationship with reformist parties in Iran, Azizi stated that it is difficult to maintain formal communications, but the Democratic Party supports civil movements and reform efforts within Iran. He emphasized that their policy is to assist movements that seek change within Iran. Regarding their relationship with ruling Kurdish parties in Iraq, he stated that they believe all parties should take a serious stance against ISIS, as the group does not recognize ethnic or sectarian boundaries. However, they do not intend to engage militarily against ISIS, as they believe the Kurdish Peshmerga in Iraq have the capacity to handle the situation. Azizi concluded that the national democratic movement in Iran could contribute more effectively to weakening ISIS than by engaging in direct military confrontations.