ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The Kurdistan Region’s Department of Foreign Relations (DFR) on Friday categorically rejected allegations circulated by “certain judicial institutions and official media outlets” in Iran, claiming that two individuals sentenced in the Islamic Republic had received training from foreign intelligence services inside the Kurdistan Region.
In a statement, the DFR said it had “followed with concern” the reports, describing them as baseless and inconsistent with the realities on the ground.
“The Kurdistan Regional Government rejects these allegations and emphasizes that there are no headquarters, facilities, or training centers affiliated with any foreign intelligence service operating within the Kurdistan Region,” the statement read. “Linking the Kurdistan Region to such matters is unfounded and does not reflect the reality on the ground.”
The KRG warned that the continued spread of such claims could have destabilizing consequences, particularly amid broader regional tensions.
“Narratives of this nature risk creating unnecessary tension and may contribute to developments that endanger civilians, public infrastructure, and the broader stability that the Kurdistan Region has worked diligently to preserve,” the statement said.
The United States and Israel launched a preemptive air campaign against Iran on February 28, targeting more than 17,000 sites across the country over six weeks of hostilities before the warring sides agreed to a Pakistan-mediated ceasefire on April 8. The truce halted fighting for two weeks and paved the way for talks.
Despite the extension of the ceasefire earlier this week, the Kurdistan Region has continued to face drone and missile threats. Since the onset of the war in late February, the Region has been targeted by 732 such attacks, resulting in 21 deaths and 99 injuries.
The attacks have been claimed by the Iranian military, particularly the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, as well as Iraqi armed groups aligned with the Tehran-led “Axis of Resistance,” which say they are targeting US interests and Iranian Kurdish opposition groups based in the Region.
Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani said on Saturday that attacks by Iran and its allied Iraqi armed groups, even during the truce, have killed at least five people and injured others.
Reiterating its longstanding policy, the DFR stressed Erbil’s commitment to stability and peaceful coexistence within Iraq and the wider region.
“For many years, the Kurdistan Region has remained committed to being a factor of stability, moderation, and coexistence,” the statement noted. “In full respect of the Iraqi Constitution and in line with the principles of good neighborly relations, the Kurdistan Regional Government reaffirms its consistent commitment that the territory of the Kurdistan Region should not be used in any manner that undermines the security and safety of neighboring states.”
The statement further emphasized that Erbil once again urges the Iraqi government to fulfill its constitutional obligations in safeguarding national sovereignty.
Appealing to global actors, the DFR also called on the international community to support efforts aimed at reducing tensions and maintaining regional stability.
The Kurdistan Region "calls on the international community to support efforts that promote de-escalation, respect for sovereignty, and the protection of civilians, in the interest of preserving regional peace and security,” the statement added.