Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan

Military Wing: PDKI Peshmerga
Military Wing: PDKI Peshmerga
Leaders	Qazi Muhammad (1940s)
Dates of operation	1945–1946; 1966–1967; 1977–1978; 1979–1996; 2016–present;
Active regions	Kurdistan Region; Kurdistan Province and West Azerbaijan Provinces of Iran
Size	12,750 infantry and cavalry (1946 estimate); 10,000–25,000 (1979–1983 estimate); 7,000–10,000 regulars plus 14,000–20,000 part-time guerillas (1980 estimate); 12,000 Peshmergas along with 60,000 armed peasants (1982 estimate); 1,500 (1996 estimate); 1,200–1,800 (2008 estimate);
Allies	Soviet Union (1945–1991); France (1973−1994); Iraq (1980–1988); Non-state allies:; HDK (sometimes); PAK; Patriotic Union of Kurdistan; Komala (1982−1984; since 2012); People's Mujahedin (1981–1985); Fedai Guerrillas (1979–1981); Tudeh Party (1940s–1950s);
Opponents	Imperial State of Iran (1945–1979); Interim Government of Iran (1979); Islamic Republic of Iran (1979−present); Non-state opponents:; Komala (1984−1991); HDK (2009); PKK (sometimes);

Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan

حیزبی دێموکراتی کوردستانی ئێران
Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan حیزبی دێموکراتی کوردستانی ئێران
Secretary-General	Mustafa Hijri
Spokesperson	Khalid Azizi
Founder	Qazi Muhammad
Founded	16 August 1945
Headquarters	Democrat Castle, (closed since September 2023) Koya, Iraqi Kurdistan; Historically:; Mahabad, Iran;
Women's wing	Kurdistan Democratic Women's Union of Iran
Membership	1,200 (2008)
Ideology	Kurdish separatism; Democratic socialism; Social democracy; Progressivism; Secularism; Historically:; Anti-imperialism ; Conservative traditionalism
Political position	Centre-left; Historically:; Left-wing
National affiliation	Coalition of Political Forces of Iranian Kurdistan (2026–present); Congress of Nationalities for a Federal Iran (2005–present); National Council of Resistance of Iran (1981–1985); United Front of Progressive Parties (1946–1948);
International affiliation	Socialist International; Progressive Alliance; Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization
Party flag
Website
	pdki.org

The Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan (PDKI; Kurdish: حیزبی دێموکراتی کوردستانی ئێران, romanized: Hizbi Dêmukrati Kurdıstani Êran, HDKA; Persian: حزب دموکرات کردستان ایران, romanized: Ḥezb-e Demokrāt-e Kordestān-e Īrān), also known as the Kurdish Democratic Party of Iran (KDPI), is a militant leftist Kurdish party in Iran.

The PDKI operates as an armed group and is based in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, with political branch offices in Europe. It is the oldest Kurdish political party advocating self-determination for Kurdish people in Iran. It is banned and declared a terrorist organization by Iran and thus not able to operate openly in the country. Over the years, the group has shifted its focus from seeking an independent Kurdish nation-state to advocating autonomy or the implementation of a federal system in Iran, and it espouses democratic socialism.

Since the 20th century, PDKI has waged a persistent guerrilla war against Iran as part of the Kurdish separatist movement in Iran. This included the 1967 Kurdish revolt in Iran, 1979–1989 Kurdish insurgency, the 1989–1996 insurgency, and recent clashes in 2016.

In recent years, the PDKI has played a significant role in supporting widespread protests against the Iranian regime. The party, alongside other Kurdish opposition groups, has called for regime change and the establishment of a democratic government that guarantees freedom and rights for all citizens. Despite harsh government crackdowns on demonstrators, the PDKI has organized solidarity actions such as strikes and public protests within Kurdistan Province. During the protests, the party joined other Kurdish groups to form the Coalition of Political Forces of Iranian Kurdistan.