Iranian Kurdish Opposition Parties Hold Summit, Stress Unity and Action Against Tehran

Peregraf — Iranian Kurdish opposition parties held a summit on Monday, January 5, 2026, placing strong emphasis on fostering Kurdish unity and taking serious, practical steps against the authority of the Islamic Republic. The meeting comes as nationwide protests in Iran enter their second week and continue to expand.

The meeting brought together the main political and armed opposition parties from Eastern Kurdistan (Iranian Kurdistan) to assess the political situation in Iran and the growing wave of demonstrations that have spread to dozens of cities. In a joint statement issued after the talks, the parties underlined "the necessity of unity and collective struggle across all regions of Iranian Kurdistan," describing it as a key condition for confronting Tehran’s policies.

The statement stressed the need for "serious and practical steps against the authority of the Islamic Republic" in response to what the parties described as hostile policies and the systematic suppression of the Kurdish political and national movement. Participants agreed that coordinated action and a unified political stance are essential at a time of escalating unrest across the country.

According to the statement, the summit reviewed the broader political climate in Iran and the latest developments in Kurdistan, while expressing support for the nationwide protests involving various ethnic groups. The parties agreed to pursue joint and productive efforts to strengthen and give momentum to the protest movements challenging the Islamic Republic.

The participants also praised the ongoing protests, strikes, and demonstrations, describing them as the result of decades of corruption, mismanagement, and repressive policies. The statement noted a decision to intensify dialogue and coordination among Kurdish parties in order to draft a clear framework for cooperation and establish a roadmap aimed at empowering the Kurdish political and national movement in Iran.

The summit included representatives from:

Komala (Kurdistan Organization of the Communist Party of Iran)
Komala Party of the Revolutionary Toilers of Iranian Kurdistan
Komala of the Toilers of Kurdistan
The Organization of Iranian Kurdistan Struggle (Sazman-i Khabat)
The Kurdistan Freedom Party (PAK)
The Free Life Party of Kurdistan (PJAK)
The Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan (PDKI)

The meeting comes amid widespread protests triggered by worsening economic conditions. Human rights organizations report that at least 18 people have been killed and more than 170 arrested since demonstrations began in Tehran last week and later spread to several provinces, particularly in western and southern Iran. The United Nations has urged Iranian authorities to respect the right to peaceful assembly.

Economic grievances remain at the core of the unrest. Iran’s rial lost about half of its value against the U.S. dollar in 2025, while official inflation reached 42.5 percent in December. Many Iranians, especially lower-income households earning little more than $150 per month, are struggling to cope with rising prices, deepening inequality, and widespread corruption.

Though the current protests are smaller in scale than the 2022–2023 unrest following the death of Mahsa Amini, Kurdish opposition parties say the persistence of demonstrations reflects unresolved structural problems. They argue that unity among Kurdish political forces and decisive, practical action are crucial to transforming popular anger into sustained political pressure on the Islamic Republic of Iran.