ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq – The Kurdistan Regional Government on Friday rejected narratives by Tehran claiming several Iranian nationals were allegedly trained by foreign intelligence services in the Region for espionage in Iran, describing the allegations as “creating unnecessary tension.”

On Tuesday, the Iranian state broadcaster aired a televised documentary showing what it described as legal proceedings and confessions involving two citizens, Hamed Validi and Mohammad Masoum Shahi, who were hanged on espionage charges.

The program claimed the men had been “trained for terrorist operations” through individuals in the Kurdistan Region, including a liaison for Israel’s intelligence service, as well as members of Kurdish opposition groups who allegedly recruited and sent them back to Iran to get information on sensitive Iranian locations.

Iran has a long history of broadcasting alleged confessions from detainees that are widely believed to be coerced, often obtained through threats, psychological pressure, and, in some cases, physical torture and commonly described as “forced confessions.”

The KRG's Department of Foreign Relations expressed concerns over “the recent allegations circulated by certain judicial institutions and official media outlets in the Islamic Republic of Iran, alleging that individuals sentenced in Iran had received training from foreign intelligence entities within the territory of the Kurdistan Region,” read a statement. 

It reaffirmed that KRG “rejects these allegations and emphasizes that there are no headquarters, facilities, or training centers affiliated with any foreign intelligence service operating within the Kurdistan Region,” the statement added. 

“Linking the Kurdistan Region to such matters is unfounded and does not reflect the reality on the ground,” it added. 

The Kurdistan Region's cities, as well as camps housing Iranian Kurdish opposition group members, have been repeatedly targeted by Iranian strikes since the outbreak of the regional conflict, with attacks continuing despite a ceasefire agreement announced between the US and Iran weeks ago.

The KRG expressed concern over such narratives, saying allegations of this nature “risk creating unnecessary tension” and threaten civilian safety and security in the Kurdistan Region.

It called on Baghdad to preserve the region’s sovereignty in line with constitutional requirements and urged the international community “to support efforts that promote de-escalation, respect for sovereignty, and the protection of civilians.”

Since the beginning of the US-Israeli military campaign against Iran in late February, pro-Iran militia groups in Iraq have repeatedly targeted the Kurdistan Region with drone and rocket strikes, which they claim to be targeting US interests in the area.

Erbil has long insisted on its neutrality in the conflict, having previously strenuously denied US media reports that Kurdish dissident forces were preparing for a cross-border offensive into Iran and warning of the dangers of irresponsible journalism.