Only Terrorist Groups Outside Iran Will Benefit From Nuclear Deal

Dr. Elisassi also cited that the horrific economic situation in Iran has adversely affected the health of Kurdish residents: “Economic instability has been identified as a leading factor behind Iran’s suicide toll as a whole and in the western Kurdish region in particular, including the cities of Bukan, Ilam, Saqqez, Mariwan, and Sanandaj.” In fact, Hussein Jafari, the head of healthcare in the region, told HRANA “In Bijar, 544 individuals have been identified as being in need of suicide watch. While in the whole Kurdistan Province – 6,113, are under suicide watch.”

Ultimately, only the terrorist groups outside Iran will benefit, as Dr. Eliassi is sure that Iran will remain unfriendly towards the Kurds either way: “Iran will remain against any positive development on the Kurdish question, be it inside Iran or outside.” 

Kurdish human rights groups report that in 2020, over 500 Iranian Kurds including human rights defenders were arrested for politically motivated reasons and charged with broad and vaguely worded national security offenses. At least 159 of them were subsequently sentenced to prison terms ranging from one month to 17 years and four received the death penalty. 

According to the UN Special Rapporteur on Iran, “Kurdish political prisoners charged with national security offences constitute a disproportionately high number of those who received the death penalty and are executed.”