Nazim Dabagh, the representative of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) office in Tehran and a member of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, rejects allegations of Iranian interference in last month’s local elections in Kurdistan, in which the PUK made a comeback from earlier poll losses. He says that PUK is not the only Kurdish party with close relations with Iran, and that all parties in Kurdistan have ties to Tehran. In this interview with Rudaw Dabagh, who has been the KRG representative in Tehran since 1999, speaks about the work of his office, Iran’s relations with Iraq and Kurdistan, and about Qassem Soleimani, the powerful Iranian commander who is widely believed to run policy in Iraq and Kurdistan. “Soleimani, as far as I know, is a man who from when he was a soldier until now, has been a loyal man to his faith, his country and his beliefs,” Dabagh says. “I see Qassem Soleimani as a good friend of the Kurds at this stage.” Here is an edited transcript of Dabagh’s interview with Rudaw:
Rudaw: It is said that Iran played a hand in the recent Kurdish elections in favor of certain political parties. As the KRG representative in Tehran, do you think this is true?
Nazim Dabagh: I personally haven’t seen any interference in the elections. But generally, if you see Iran’s work as interference, then I can say that all parties in Kurdistan have received one sort of help from the outside or another, in the form of advice, guidance, advertisement companies and campaign experts.
The PUK used whatever means it could to win more votes, and it could be that some Iranians were there and involved, but not as official representatives of the Iranian government, rather as independent individuals.
All parties maintain relations with Iran. However, their relations change from time to time and depending on a specific party’s borders with Iran. 
Meanwhile, I think all Kurdish parties have relations with Iran as much as the PUK has, if not more. This includes the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), the Change Movement (Gorran) and others.
Rudaw: But why do you think it is often said that the PUK has the strongest relations with Iran?
Nazim Dabagh: As I said, all parties maintain relations with Iran. However, their relations change from time to time and depending on a specific party’s borders with Iran. For instance, the PUK shares the longest border with Iran. But party representatives all visit Iran almost equally. They have an old and historical relation with Iran. Iran has been a supporter of the Kurdish freedom movements in different stages of history. So these parties still want to keep and improve their relations with Iran for economic, political and security purposes.
Rudaw: Are there more official KRG visits to Iran or party visits?
Nazim Dabagh: There have been more government visits. There were government visits before the elections, but more visits last year, I can say, than this year. There have also been party visits, but fewer. I am aware of party visits to Iran, but unaware of the details of the meetings. There have been visits that weren’t mentioned in the media as well.
Rudaw: Do you arrange all party and government officials to Tehran?
Nazim Dabagh: No, I am mostly responsible for government representation. But in the meantime, as a PUK member, I still hold the title of PUK representative to Iran. So, I am aware of the PUK relations, too. Until recently, the KRG mission in Tehran was made of the KDP and PUK. The KDP representative was my deputy. But from the very beginning all party representatives maintained good relations among ourselves and acted more as a united Kurdish voice than as partisans.
I think it is better if we become one government mission and work purely for the Kurdish cause.
We had other party representatives in Tehran, but we suggested to KRG Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani to gather us all officially as one group, representing different parties in Iran, but under one umbrella.
Rudaw: Do the party delegates who work in the KRG mission there also work for their own respective parties on the side?
Nazim Dabagh: I should tell you that the KRG mission in Tehran has some sort of a special status. Up until this moment, the Kurdistan parliament hasn’t really decided whether political parties can maintain separate representations or not. Therefore, the parties feel they can have their own individual representatives.
But if it is up to me, I think it is better if we become one government mission and work purely for the Kurdish cause.
Rudaw: The Iraqi law says that the KRG can have missions within Iraqi embassies abroad. Don’t you think your separate mission in Iran is a violation of the Iraqi constitution by Tehran?
Nazim Dabagh: Looking at it legally, the Iraqi constitution doesn’t say such a thing. And one of the main disputes between Erbil and the central government is about how we organize our foreign relations. As a representative, I am in Iran to represent the policies of my government, and if we do not happen to have relations with the Iraqi embassy, I would still do what my government has assigned me to do.
Rudaw: Does Iran treat the KRG mission as a legal representation?
Nazim Dabagh: It doesn’t see it as illegal, even if it doesn’t treat it as legal. The Islamic Republic has always had such relations with the Kurdistan Region. But the building where we are is registered under my name. Otherwise, there are constitutional issues. It is true of all the KRG missions. However, the PUK and KDP, as well as Mr. Zebari (the Iraqi foreign minister), know that during each of their visits we have asked them ‘when are you going to solve this issue?’ But still, our mission is officially known by local authorities in Tehran as the representation of the KRG. Also, government ministries in Tehran, as well as the economic and investment board, for example, address us in their official communications as the representatives of the KRG. And we address Iranian government departments with official KRG letterhead.
Rudaw: It is said that the KRG has better relations with the military side of Iran, for example with the Quds forces and its commander, known as Haji. Who is this Haji?
I don’t think it is about how influential he is. It is more about what are Iran’s interests in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region.
Nazim Dabagh: When you mention the Quds forces a name comes to mind and that is Qassem Soleimani.
Rudaw: What is the nature of this relationship?
Nazim Dabagh: It all depends on the time and circumstances. But we do not have daily contact with him. He has a staff that we deal with more regularly on low-level issues. Soleimani may have relations with the higher-level officials in the Kurdistan Region more directly.
Rudaw: How much sway does Soleimani hold in the Kurdistan Region and Iraq?
Nazim Dabagh: I don’t think it is about how influential he is. It is more about what are Iran’s interests in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region -- the same with Turkey, as others. But I do not think it either that everything is about Iran’s interests. For instance, back when we were fighters in the mountains, we could not impose our conditions on Iran. Now, however, the Kurdistan Region is an important geographic spot in the region and therefore the relations are more balanced.
Rudaw: But once Soleimani said that he was the ruler of Iraq, not Paul Bremer. What does that mean?
Nazim Dabagh: I think Iran has an essential role and say in Iraqi affairs and influence over all parties, including the communist party, not only in Iraq or the Kurdistan Region, but in the whole region. It plays a direct and decisive role. Two examples: Do you think without Iran the situation in Afghanistan would have turned out as it did? In Iraq, would the war and its outcome have turned out as it did? If Iran had been really against it, then how could we have the federalism that we have today?
Rudaw: Why do you have this kind of relation with Qassem Soleimani? Also, why do you refer to him as Haji in your official letters instead of by his real name?
Nazim Dabagh: In all my official communications I use the short form of names. Besides, I reject some of the letters that were published as mine, when my email had been hacked (in 2010).
Rudaw: Has Iran asked you to put Komala and the Democrats (two Iranian Kurdish opposition groups) under surveillance in the Kurdistan Region?
We have never tried to act as guards to the camps of the Komala and Democrats. But we make sure no one goes from here and carries out sabotage in Iran.
Nazim Dabagh: This is what I want to tell you: The relations between the KRG and Iran are based on mutual interest. Also, previously and as political parties, we had agreed that our territories shouldn’t be used against Iran, nor should Iran use its borders against us. We told this to the Iranian Kurdish parties, too. We have never tried to act as guards to the camps of the Komala and Democrats. But we make sure no one goes from here and carries out sabotage in Iran. Iran also monitors to make sure Islamic groups such as al-Qaeda do not come and carry out terrorism in Kurdistan. It is the policy of the KRG that no one should be allowed to use its territory to cause trouble or instability to Iran, Turkey or anyone else, which has led to the calm and stability that has persisted in the region for years now.
Rudaw: You have had face-to-face meetings with Qassem Soleimani. What kind of person is he?
Nazim Dabagh: Yes, I have met him, and often. If I say I haven’t I wouldn’t be telling the truth and you wouldn’t believe me either. But unfortunately, here, when you tell the truth, they would immediately connect you with some sin. Qassem Soleimani, as far as I know, is a man who from when he was a soldier until now, has been a loyal man to his faith, his country and his beliefs.
Rudaw: Can you say that Qassem Soleimani is a friend of the Kurds and not the demon he is portrayed as?
Nazim Dabagh: I see Qassem Soleimani as a good friend of the Kurds at this stage. I haven’t seen in his policies... anything against the Kurds. He is trying to maintain relations among Kurds and Shiites, Shiites and Sunnis, Kurds and Iraq.
