IRBIL, Iraq (AP) — Officials with one of the armed Kurdish Iranian dissident groups based in northern Iraq told The Associated Press that they are not planning an imminent cross-border attack on Iran but would join a ground invasion if the U.S. were to launch one.
The comments appeared to be aimed at reassuring Iraqi Kurdish officials, who have said they do not want attacks to be launched against Iran from their territory, fearing that they will be further dragged into the war in the Middle East sparked by the U.S. and Israel’s strikes on Iran.
In the event of a U.S. ground operation, “then we would enter alongside the coalition forces,” said Khalil Nadiri, an official with the Kurdistan Freedom Party PAK, in an interview with the AP Thursday. But he said, “The Kurds must not place themselves as the spearhead of the attack.”
He added that his group also has armed members already present inside of Iran and that they would not necessarily require cross-border support if they were to stage an uprising.
Nadiri said the Kurdish groups have been in contact with the U.S. and Israel but denied having received any material aid from them.
The comments came after Kurdish officials said earlier this week that the Kurdish Iranian dissident groups based in northern Iraq are preparing for a potential cross-border military operation in Iran, and the U.S. had asked Iraqi Kurds to support them
Rebaz Sharifi, a military commander with the PAK, said it would be “a very positive development” if the U.S. and its allies were to arm the Kurdish groups, but also denied that they have received any such support so far.
Sharifi said he expects that at some point, U.S. President Donald Trump “might want the peshmerga forces of Eastern Kurdistan to participate in the conflict during a ground invasion” and “if it reaches that point, we, for our part, would be pleased with it.”
However, the two officials sought to dispel the fears of Iraqi Kurdish officials that Iraq’s semiautonomous Kurdish region would be used as a launching pad.
Peshawa Hawramani, spokesperson for the Kurdistan Regional Government, said in a statement earlier this week that “allegations claiming that we are part of a plan to arm and send Kurdish opposition parties into Iranian territory are completely unfounded” and that the Iraqi Kurdish parties do not want to “expand the war and tensions in the region.”
Already Iran and allied Iraqi militias have launched dozens of missiles and drone attacks into northern Iraq, targeting the U.S. bases and consulate in Irbil as well as bases of the Iranian Kurdish dissident groups.
Sharifi said PAK's bases have been attacked twice with ballistic missiles and four times with drones since the start of the war, killing one of their fighters and wounding three others.
Nadiri said that “since the (Iraqi) Kurdistan region has adopted a policy of not becoming a part of this conflict and because we do not want to disrupt the stability and security here and we respect the laws of this region, consequently, the environment has not yet been established for us to move our forces back into Eastern Kurdistan.”
He was using the term used by Kurdish groups to refer to the Kurdish region of Iran.
The potential military involvement of the Kurds has raised tensions with other Iranian opposition groups - notably the faction led by the former shah’s son, Reza Pahlavi, who has accused the Kurds of being separatists aiming to carve up Iran.
Sharifi said that his group's “ultimate goal is the statehood of the Kurds in all four regions and the reunification of Kurdistan,” referring to the Kurdish areas that are currently split among Iran, Iraq, Turkey and Syria.
Nadiri said that a confederal system could be a “viable solution” that would allow the Kurdish area to remain part of Iran while maintaining its “own sovereignty, identity, and unique characteristics.”
Members of the Kurdistan Freedom Party PAK stand guard in Irbil, Iraq, Thursday, March 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Rashid Yahya)
A member of the Kurdistan Freedom Party PAK, stand guard in Irbil, Iraq, Thursday, March 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Rashid Yahya)
Rebaz Sherifi, military commander at the Kurdistan Freedom Party PAK, speaks during an interview in Irbil, Iraq, Thursday, March 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Rashid Yahya)
Against the world champion, Wrexham came agonizingly close to another spectacular plot twist.
Substitute Lewis Brunt was a matter of inches offside when he headed in what looked like an equalizing goal in a thrilling FA Cup fifth round clash against Premier League giant Chelsea on Saturday.
Wrexham - in front of Hollywood owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob Mac - led twice at the Racecourse Ground and, even down to 10 men in extra time, it pushed Chelsea right down to the wire before eventually losing 4-2.
Goals from Alejandro Garnacho and Joao Pedro in extra time ultimately proved the difference between a Chelsea team that cost billions to assemble and a Wrexham side that was playing non-league soccer just three years ago.
But even in defeat, Wrexham issued a statement of its potential as it aims to secure a fourth straight promotion this season and face the likes of Chelsea on a regular basis in the Premier League.
“It was one of the hardest games of the season so far,” Garnacho told the BBC.
That was some admission, considering Chelsea has played Bayern Munich, Barcelona and Napoli in the Champions League this season. But it reflected just how close Wrexham came to a famous Cup upset in front of its fans.
The home crowd erupted in the 18th when Sam Smith chased a long ball from Callum Doyle and fired low past Robert Sanchez to put Wrexham in front.
There were more chances to extend the lead, but Chelsea leveled in fortuitous circumstances before the break.
George Thomason denied Garnacho an equalizer when clearing his goalbound effort off the line. But his clearance hit the back of goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo and rebounded into the net.
Wrexham led for the second time in the 78th when Doyle produced a clever backheeled flick from Josh Windass' shot from distance.
Four minutes later the game was tied again - Josh Acheampong firing powerfully past Okonkwo from close range.
A red card for George Dobson in added time meant Wrexham had to play out extra time with 10 men and Chelsea took advantage through Garnacho's goal in the 96th.
Brunt thought he'd leveled the game again with his header from Kieffer Moore's flick on - but VAR showed he was fractionally offside.
With time ticking down Lewis O'Brien fired narrowly wide and Chelsea could finally breathe easily when Pedro killed off the game in the fifth minute of added time.
Eberechi Eze blasted Arsenal into the quarterfinals and kept alive the its hunt for a quadruple of trophies this season.
Eze stepped off the bench and fired a thunderous effort into the top corner to see off the challenge of third-division Mansfield, sealing a 2-1 win at Field Mill.
Premier League leader Arsenal is also into the Champions League round of 16 and the English League Cup final. But it was given a stern test by a Mansfield team that is in the bottom half of League One and leveled the game in the second half through Will Evans.
“We wanted to make it a proper cup tie and a tough game for Arsenal and I thought we did that,” Mansfield manager Nigel Clough told TNT Sports.
Noni Madueke had given Arsenal the lead with first-time curling effort into the top corner after 41 minutes. But substitute Evans seized on a loose pass by Marli Salmon five minutes into the second half and fired low past Kepa Arrizabalaga to send the home crowd wild.
“I was gutted to not start the game. I thought if I got any chance today I've got to prove a point — not just to the team, but to myself as well,” Evans said.
Eze had only been on the field for four minutes when he struck his 66th-minute winner and fired Arsenal into the quarterfinals for the first time since last lifting the Cup in 2020.
“It was a proper FA Cup game and credit to Mansfield, the stadium, the atmosphere that the fans created,” said Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta, who named two 16-year-olds in his starting lineup — Salmon and Max Dowman.
Wrexham hosts Chelsea in the Cup later Saturday and Manchester City travels to Newcastle.
James Robson is at https://x.com/jamesalanrobson
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
Wrexham's Callum Doyle celebrates after scoring during the fifth round FA Cup soccer match between Wrexham and Chelsea in Wrexham, Wales, Saturday, March 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Jon Super)
Chelsea players celebrate after a goal during the fifth round FA Cup soccer match between Wrexham and Chelsea in Wrexham, Wales, Saturday, March 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Jon Super)
Wrexham co-owners Rob Mac, front, and Ryan Reynolds embrace after Wrexham scored during the fifth round FA Cup soccer match between Wrexham and Chelsea in Wrexham, Wales, Saturday, March 7, 2026. (Nick Potts/PA via AP)
Wrexham's Sam Smith celebrates after scoring during the fifth round FA Cup soccer match between Wrexham and Chelsea in Wrexham, Wales, Saturday, March 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Jon Super)
Arsenal's Eberechi Eze applauds after the English FA Cup soccer match between Mansfield Town and Arsenal in Mansfield, England, Saturday, March 7, 2026.(AP Photo/Dave Thompson)
Arsenal's fans cheer during the English FA Cup soccer match between Mansfield Town and Arsenal in Mansfield, England, Saturday, March 7, 2026.(AP Photo/Dave Thompson)
Arsenal's Cristhian Mosquera, left, challenges for the ball with Mansfield's Rhys Oates during the English FA Cup soccer match between Mansfield Town and Arsenal in Mansfield, England, Saturday, March 7, 2026.(AP Photo/Dave Thompson)
Mansfield's Will Evans celebrates after scoring his side's first goal during the English FA Cup soccer match between Mansfield Town and Arsenal in Mansfield, England, Saturday, March 7, 2026.(AP Photo/Dave Thompson)
Arsenal's Eberechi Eze celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during the English FA Cup soccer match between Mansfield Town and Arsenal in Mansfield, England, Saturday, March 7, 2026.(AP Photo/Dave Thompson)
