PUK Chief Rules Out Near-Term Regime Change in Iran Despite Tensions

RunWithRugs · 2026-03-09T11:18:48+00:00

Bafel Talabani, leader of the PUK, believes regime change in Iran is unlikely amid rising tensions. He suggests Iran favors negotiation over conflict but expects resistance, as there is no unified opposition comparable to Iraq in 2003.

RunWithRugs

2026-03-09 11:18:48

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(MENAFN) Bafel Talabani, head of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) in Iraq, stated that despite rising tensions in Iran, he does not foresee a change in the regime at this stage.

“At the moment, regime change doesn’t look on the cards from what I see,” Talabani said in an interview, noting that he expects the situation to intensify following recent attacks by Israel and the United States against Iran.

He revealed that he had a phone conversation with Abbas Araghchi, Iran’s foreign minister.

“He indicated that this wasn’t a war they were looking forward to, but it was a war they would have to fight. It’s definitely existential to them. I got the impression that they were open to some form of peaceful negotiation, which realistically is the only real solution to this issue,” Talabani said.

Regarding the prospect of Tehran surrendering unconditionally, he said, “I don’t see that right now. I think the regime has been planning for this for 45 years, and you can expect a fierce resistance.”

When asked to compare Iran’s situation to Iraq before 2003, Talabani noted: “In 2003, there was legitimate, well-known, respected opposition to Saddam among the Shiites, among the Kurds, and we don’t really see that in Iran now. There isn’t a standard, a symbol for people to follow, and that will make it very difficult.”

On the question of cross-border operations by Iraq involving Iranian Kurds, Talabani said: “Not that I see. And you could argue that’s actually a detriment. Iranians, like everybody else, are very nationalistic persons, and I believe that if they fear that Kurds coming in from elsewhere will cause a split or a splintering of their country, this may actually unify the people against this separatist movement.”

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