The United States is considering a plan to arm Iranian Kurdish forces with the aim of fomenting an uprising against the regime in Tehran, CNN recently reported, citing sources familiar with the discussions.
According to them, the administration of President Donald Trump has held talks with Iranian opposition groups and Kurdish leaders in Iraq about possible military support.
Iranian Kurdish armed groups operate mainly along the Iraq-Iran border, in the semi-autonomous region of Iraqi Kurdistan. According to sources, these forces could be involved in a ground operation in western Iran in the coming days, with the expectation of American and Israeli support. Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has already launched drone attacks on Kurdish positions, increasing tensions in the area.
One of the groups involved in the discussions is the Kurdistan Democratic Party of Iran (KDPI), whose leader, Mustafa Hijri, is said to have had a phone conversation with President Trump. The idea, according to the sources, is for Kurdish forces to engage Iranian security forces on the outskirts, creating space for mass protests in major cities without facing immediate repression.
However, experts warn of unintended consequences. National security analysts point out that arming the militias could further destabilize the region and undermine Iraq's sovereignty. Moreover, US intelligence assessments suggest that Iranian Kurdish groups currently lack the capacity to guarantee the success of an uprising.
The history of relations between the US and Kurdish forces is complex. Washington has supported the Kurds in the fight against ISIS, but there have also been deep disappointments after previous American withdrawals from the region.