Five Iranian Kurdish Parties Form Coalition, Two Others Refrained

22.February.2026

Five Iranian Kurdish political parties on Sunday formally signed a long-negotiated coalition framework, announcing the establishment of a unified political front under the name “Coalition of Political Forces of Iranian Kurdistan.”

The agreement was finalized during a meeting of party leaders affiliated with the Dialogue Centre on February 22. Signatories included Mostafa Hijri, Secretary-General of the Kurdistan Democratic Party of Iran (KDPI); Peyman Viyan, female Co-Chair of the Kurdistan Free Life Party (PJAK); Hussein Yazdanpanah, Head of the Kurdistan Freedom Party (PAK); Reza Cabi, Secretary of Komala of the Toilers of Kurdistan; and Baba Sheikh Husseini, Secretary of the Khabat Organization of Iranian Kurdistan.

Two other Kurdish political groups — Komala, Revolutionary Party of Iranian Kurdistan and the Komala Kurdistan Organization of the Communist Party of Iran — declined to join the agreement, underscoring ongoing divisions within the Kurdish political landscape.

In its founding declaration, the newly formed coalition described Kurdistan as an “occupied and militarized” region governed through repression by the Islamic Republic. The document framed the initiative as a response to what it called a broader political impasse in Iran, arguing that fragmentation among opposition forces has enabled the government to remain in power despite what it characterized as a crisis of legitimacy.

According to the statement, the coalition seeks to redefine the role of Kurdish political actors amid evolving national dynamics. Emerging from an extended period of dialogue and coordination within the Dialogue Centre, the initiative aims to unify Kurdish political efforts, strengthen Kurdistan’s position within the wider opposition to the Islamic Republic, and contribute to shaping Iran’s future political order.

The signatory parties outlined three principal objectives: the overthrow of the Islamic Republic; realization of the Kurdish nation’s right to self-determination; and the establishment of a national and democratic institutional framework based on the political will of the Kurdish population in Iranian Kurdistan. The coalition also expressed support for nationwide protest movements across Iran and emphasized the need for coordinated political and field-level cooperation between Kurdish organizations and other opposition forces.

The declaration further set conditions for potential alliances with non-Kurdish political actors. It stated that cooperation would depend on recognition of the rights of nations, commitment to democratic governance, and rejection of all forms of dictatorship.

Beyond its immediate political goals, the coalition affirmed commitments to environmental protection, social justice, gender equality, free and fair elections, and the protection of fundamental rights for all national and religious communities in Kurdistan. It also called for the establishment of a democratic and secular political system in Iran that guarantees the rights of all its diverse populations.

While the formation of the coalition represents a notable step toward political consolidation among Iranian Kurdish groups, questions remain regarding its long-term cohesion. Observers note that the absence of two major parties may affect the coalition’s ability to present a fully unified front. Whether additional actors will join the framework or existing divisions will persist is likely to shape the trajectory of Kurdish politics in Iran and its role within the broader opposition movement.