The Role of Power, Oil and Iran in Patriotic Union of Kurdistan’s in-Fighting

The Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), which is the second most powerful military and political power in the Iraqi Kurdistan Regional Government of Iraq (KRG), has recently witnessed serious internal cracks. Political observers believe that this may have serious consequences for the KRG and the neighboring countries. In this report, the roots of the crisis will be examined. It is assumed that the struggle for power, oil, and Iran’s policy moves in KRG are the main factors which have triggered this division within PUK.