Iran’s Press TV reported July 13 that the Iranian government deployed 5,000 troops near the country’s northwestern border with Iraq to contain the Kurdistan Free Life Party (PJAK), Iran’s main Kurdish militant group. STRATFOR sources in PJAK confirmed the buildup of Iranian forces backed with armor and artillery, but maintained that Iranian troops have not crossed into Iraqi territory. During the summer fighting season, increased Iranian military activity and Kurdish militancy in the border region is not unusual. However, a 5,000-strong deployment on the Iran-Iraq border is noteworthy for its scale, raising questions about Tehran’s intentions beyond clamping down on Kurdish unrest. It also comes at a crucial juncture in U.S.-Iranian relations. Iran wants to increase pressure on the United States and Iraqi factions seeking a longer stay for U.S. forces, but if it goes too far it could motivate Washington to keep forces in Iraq with or without an Iraqi vote.
