Iraq's autonomous Kurdistan region hosts camps and rear bases operated by several Kurdish-Iranian factions, which have repeatedly faced cross-border strikes from Iran.

Five exiled groups said they had formed a coalition to "assert our presence in Iran's current political situation, where the Islamic republic regime has lost all political legitimacy but unfortunately remains in power".

The "Coalition of Political Forces in Iran Kurdistan" includes the Kurdistan Freedom Party (PAK), the Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan (PDKI), and the Party of Free Life of Kurdistan (PJAK).

The main goals of the alliance are, the joint statement said, "the struggle to overthrow the Islamic republic of Iran, and to achieve self-determination for the Kurds".

They added that they support anti-government protests in Iran and stressed the need for "coordinated, joint political and on-the-ground efforts" between Kurdish parties and civil society and opposition groups across Iran.

The interior ministry of the autonomous Kurdish region in Iraq protested that it "will not allow any actor to use the Kurdistan region against any neighbouring country".

In late December, economic hardship sparked protests in sanctions-hit Iran that expanded into nationwide anti-government demonstrations, which were met with a crackdown that left thousands dead.

Last month, the Kurdish exiled groups in Iraq called for a general strike in support of the anti-government protests.

In 2022, Iran launched deadly military strikes on exiled Kurdish-Iranian militants, accusing them of instigating protests sparked by the death in custody of Kurdish-Iranian woman Mahsa Amini.

Iranian-Kurdish groups, which are mostly armed, have long been in Tehran's sights, and many follow a socialist doctrine.

Although they have largely refrained from armed activity in recent years, they continue to actively campaign from exile.

Kurds, often described as belonging to one of the world's largest stateless peoples, make up one of Iran's most important non-Persian ethnic minority groups.