The administration of Donald Trump is considering the possibility of relying on armed groups inside Iran—including Kurdish formations—if they are prepared to move against the authorities in Tehran. The Wall Street Journal reported this, citing U.S. officials.
At the same time, the U.S. president held talks with the leadership of Iraqi Kurdistan, which, as we have previously noted, remains effectively the only force in the region capable of launching ground operations against Iran.
“According to U.S. officials, President Trump is prepared to support groups inside Iran willing to take up arms to overthrow the regime, and this idea could, at least rhetorically, turn Iranian factions into ground forces backed by Washington. President Trump held discussions with several regional partners—including Masoud Barzani, president of the Kurdistan Democratic Party and the de facto leader of Iraqi Kurdistan, and Bafel Talabani, president of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan. A source familiar with the talks described the conversations as ‘delicate.’ No final decision has yet been made on providing weapons or intelligence support,” the newspaper writes.
At the same time, Trump’s rhetoric shifted markedly over the course of the previous evening. Whereas he had earlier insisted that “Tehran wants negotiations” and signaled that he was open to such a scenario, he now says there will be no talks, speaks of arming opponents of the Iranian authorities, and does not rule out a ground operation.
Such a reversal may indirectly suggest that Washington’s attempts to reach an understanding with Iran’s new leadership have so far yielded no results.