Fearing an American alliance, Iran negotiates its opposition Kurdish parties
July 11, 2019, 4:55 pm

Fearing an American alliance, Iran negotiates its opposition Kurdish parties

Despite Iran and the Kurdish parties of Iran have been engaged in intermittent armed conflict for decades, Iran has not been able to eradicate these parties and neither have Iran’s armed Kurdish parties been able to force their demands upon the state. Therefore, there was a need for mutual compromise. The Kurdish parties have shown willingness to negotiate with the government of Iran, provided that the latter is serious about finding a lasting solution

Recently, opposition Kurdish parties in Iran stated that representatives of the Iranian regime held meetings in the Norwegian capital, Oslo, preparing for negotiations with 4 opposition Kurdish parties; Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan (PDKI), Komala Party of Iranian Kurdistan, Democratic Party of Kurdistan (PDK) and Komala Communist Party of Kurdistan.

Kurdish sources have discerned that the three-stage talks between these parties and Iranian officials, including intelligence officers, took place in Germany and Norway.

The sources, preferred to remain unidentified, said that Iran had threatened to attack and destroy the entire Iraqi part bases of these parties if Tehran was targeted by American air strikes or if these parties took sides with America and its allies.

The Kurdish sources said that Iran required those leftist view parties to lay down arms and sign treaties not to stand by any anti-Iranian forces in return of allowing them to return to the country and act as peaceful political organizations.

Tehran puts pressure on Iraqi Kurdistan

According to sources, Tehran has forced the Kurdistan Regional Government to ban the activity and presence of these parties and disarm them, otherwise they will be treated as an enemy force. This has prompted the regional government to pressure on the leaders of the Kurds of Iran to join the talks.

“ It seems that the Kurdish parties of Iran have been trapped in between the Iranian regime which bombs their headquarters every now and then and the pressure of the Iraqi Kurdistan government that does not want tension with Tehran,” explained a Kurdish activist.

The sources mentioned that the Iranian Kurdish parties’ leaders did not explicitly announce the talks because they have become embarrassed under the pressure of their cadres and the Kurdish public opinion.

The Kurds are currently reviving the 30th anniversary of the assassination of their historic leader Dr. Abdul Rahman Qasemlo, who was assassinated on 13 July 1989 by the Iranian intelligence in Austria. Qasemlo went to negotiate the rights of the Kurds with an Iranian government delegation coming from Tehran, but he was shot dead at the negotiating table.

The sources explained that the meetings were conducted by a non-governmental organization close to the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs called "Norwegian Center for the Settlement of Disputes NOREF".

They also pointed out that the Iranian delegation included high-level representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Office of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, in addition to officers from the Ministry of Intelligence and the intelligence service of the Revolutionary Guard.

Iran's intelligence services had also assassinated Sadiq Sharafkandi, secretary-general of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and three of his assistants in Berlin 1992, during a negotiating meeting. This has prompted oppositions to criticize the parties who want to negotiate with the regime in Tehran. They accused them of "not learning lessons from the past".

Fearing an American alliance, Iran negotiates its opposition Kurdish parties

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BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) at the company’s headquarters in the Seef District.
During the meeting, shareholders approved all items listed on the agenda, including the ratification of the minutes of the previous AGM held on 26 March 2024. The session reviewed and approved the Board’s Annual Report on the company’s activities and financial performance for the fiscal year ended 31 December 2024, and the shareholders expressed their satisfaction with the company’s operational and financial results during the reporting period.
The meeting also reviewed the Independent External Auditor’s Report on the company’s consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2024. Subsequently, the shareholders approved the audited financial statements for the fiscal year. Based on the Board’s recommendation, the shareholders approved the distribution of a cash dividend equivalent to 10% of the paid-up share capital.
Furthermore, the shareholders endorsed the allocation of a total amount of BD 172,500 as remuneration to the members of the Board for the year ended 31 December 2024, subject to prior clearance by related authorities.
The extension of the current composition of the Board was approved, which includes ten members and one CBB observer, for a further six-month term, expiring in September 2025, pending no objection from the CBB.
The meeting reviewed and approved the Corporate Governance Report for 2024, which affirmed the company’s full compliance with the corporate governance directives issued by the CBB and other applicable regulatory frameworks. The AGM absolved the Board Members of liability for any of their actions during the year ending on 31st December 2024, in accordance with the Commercial Companies Law.
In alignment with regulatory requirements, the session approved the reappointment of Ernst & Young (EY) as the company’s External Auditors for the fiscal year 2025, covering both the parent company and its subsidiaries—Sinnad and Bahrain FinTech Bay. The Board was authorised to determine the external auditors’ professional fees, subject to approval from the CBB, and the meeting concluded with a discussion of any additional issues as per Article (207) of the Commercial Companies Law.
Speaking on the company’s performance, Mr. Mohamed Al Bastaki, Chairman BENEFIT , stated: “In terms of the financial results for 2024, I am pleased to say that the year gone by has also been proved to be a success in delivering tangible results. Growth rate for 2024 was 19 per cent. Revenue for the year was BD 17 M (US$ 45.3 Million) and net profit was 2 Million ($ 5.3 Million).

Mr. Al Bastaki also announced that the Board had formally adopted a new three-year strategic roadmap to commence in 2025. The strategy encompasses a phased international expansion, optimisation of internal operations, enhanced revenue diversification, long-term sustainability initiatives, and the advancement of innovation and digital transformation initiatives across all service lines.
“I extend my sincere appreciation to the CBB for its continued support of BENEFIT and its pivotal role in fostering a stable and progressive regulatory environment for the Kingdom’s banking and financial sector—an environment that has significantly reinforced Bahrain’s standing as a leading financial hub in the region,” said Mr. Al Bastaki. “I would also like to thank our partner banks and valued customers for their trust, and our shareholders for their ongoing encouragement. The achievements of 2024 set a strong precedent, and I am confident they will serve as a foundation for yet another successful and impactful year ahead.”
Chief Executive of BENEFIT; Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi commented, “The year 2024 represented another pivotal chapter in BENEFIT ’s evolution. We achieved substantial progress in advancing our digital strategy across multiple sectors, while reinforcing our long-term commitment to the development of Bahrain’s financial services and payments landscape. Throughout the year, we remained firmly aligned with our objective of delivering measurable value to our shareholders, strategic partners, and customers. At the same time, we continued to play an active role in enabling Bahrain’s digital economy by introducing innovative solutions and service enhancements that directly address market needs and future opportunities.”
Mr. AlJanahi affirmed that BENEFIT has successfully developed a robust and well-integrated payment network that connects individuals and businesses across Bahrain, accelerating the adoption of emerging technologies in the banking and financial services sector and reinforcing Bahrain’s position as a growing fintech hub, and added, “Our achievements of the past year reflect a long-term vision to establish a resilient electronic payment infrastructure that supports the Kingdom’s digital economy. Key developments in 2024 included the implementation of central authentication for open banking via BENEFIT Pay”
Mr. AlJanahi concluded by thanking the Board for its strategic direction, the company’s staff for their continued dedication, and the Central Bank of Bahrain, member banks, and shareholders for their valuable partnership and confidence in the company’s long-term vision.