Iranian Kurdish opposition groups will meet with Iranian government officials in Oslo for a third round of talks in August, Al-Monitor has learned. The meetings, to be mediated by a Norwegian organization devoted to conflict resolution, mark the first time the Iranian regime has sat at the same table with multiple Kurdish groups since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Helvetica; -webkit-text-stroke: #000000} span.s1 {font-kerning: none} p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica} and the first time that it has met with any Kurdish party in the presence of foreign facilitators.
"The talks should not be confused with negotiations,” said an official from one of four Iranian Kurdish opposition parties participating in the meetings, which are being brokered by the Norwegian Center for Conflict Resolution, known as NOREF. “The process is a continuation of seeking to lay a foundation, a framework for substantive negotiations, more of a sizing up of mutual intentions to gauge whether they are sincere. I don’t believe for a second that the Iranian regime is sincere.” The official echoed sentiments aired by other Iranian Kurdish opposition sources, who all spoke on condition of anonymity due to the delicate nature of the subject.