Iran's ambassador to Iraq, Mohammad Kazem Al-e Sadegh, said the security of the shared border, including Iraq's Kurdistan Region, is a red line for Tehran, according to Iranian media.
Mr Al-e Sadegh described border security as a vital necessity for regional stability, according to Tehran Times. Kayhan reported that he made the remarks on Sunday in an interview with Tasnim news agency.
He said Iran was co-ordinating with Baghdad and the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) to disarm and relocate what he called "terrorist and separatist groups" from border areas, Kayhan reported. That is Iran's description of the groups.
Tehran Times quoted him as saying: "Our borders must be borders of peace, friendship, trade and prosperity for the people on both sides, not a place for the movement of separatist, terrorist groups or elements affiliated with hostile foreign services."
Mr Al-e Sadegh said a comprehensive security memorandum gave a firm legal framework. He said progress had been made with the Iraqi central government and Kurdish authorities, and cited a visit to Tehran by Patriotic Union of Kurdistan leader Bafel Talabani.
He said agreements on the Shalamcheh-Basra railway, energy exports, border free zones and customs were advancing through technical committees and monthly follow-ups.
He also said the political will of the leaders of the two countries was the main driving force for putting each of the agreements into practice.
On aviation, the ambassador said US pressure on airlines and airport infrastructure violated international law and rules of the International Civil Aviation Organization. No US response had been reported.
He said flights to Najaf had resumed and talks continued to restore flights to all Iraqi airports. Tehran Times reported that he hoped for a full return of flights to normal, and for more flights in busy pilgrimage periods.
Kayhan, quoting the Tasnim interview, also reported him as saying that the development and security of Iraq was the development and security of Iran.
All the reports found so far came from Iranian outlets. No reaction from the Iraqi government, the KRG, Kurdish opposition groups or the United States to this interview had been reported.
The groups Mr Al-e Sadegh referred to are Iranian Kurdish opposition parties based in northern Iraq. The New Arab reported that Iran accuses them of working with Israel's Mossad, and that they deny it.
Iraq and Iran agreed in March 2023 to disarm Iranian Kurdish opposition groups in northern Iraq and move them away from the border, according to The New Arab and Rudaw.
On 11 August 2025, Ali Larijani, secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, and Iraq's National Security Adviser Qasim al-Araji signed a border-security memorandum in Baghdad, The New Arab reported. Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani was present. The US opposed closer Iran-Iraq ties.
An Iran-Iraq committee on implementing the 2023 agreement met in Baghdad on 11 May 2026. Rudaw said attacks on Kurdish opposition groups were continuing.
A Carnegie Endowment article from July 2026 reported that Soran Mohammedzadeh, a member of the Kurdistan Freedom Party, was assassinated in Erbil on 2 July. It said Iranian state media reported that Iran was pressing Baghdad to comply with the 2023 deal.
The article noted that most of the groups are in territory run by the KRG, which has considerable autonomy. A Manara Magazine analysis from August 2026 described continuing Iranian strikes on Kurdish groups in Iraq.
Mr Al-e Sadegh has been Iran's ambassador to Iraq since 2022, when he replaced Iraj Masjedi, according to Rudaw.
The New Arab reported that Iran fears Kurdish armed groups could cross from Iraqi Kurdistan during any renewed conflict involving Israel or the US.
Reports from about 15 October said Mr Talabani spoke of a process of talks between Iran and the Kurdish groups. No dates had been given for further talks, and talks on returning flights to Iraqi airports were continuing.
Photo: en:United States Department of State / Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)
