The administration of Donald Trump has been engaging with Iranian opposition groups and Kurdish leaders based in northern Iraq to explore the possibility of providing them with military assistance, CNN reported citing multiple people familiar with the matter.
Strategy aimed at weakening Iranian security forcesIranian Kurdish armed groups already operate thousands of fighters along the Iraq–Iran border, largely from the semi-autonomous Kurdistan region in Iraq.
The idea is that Kurdish forces could confront Iranian security units and keep them occupied, allowing unarmed civilians in major Iranian cities to protest without facing immediate suppression, as per CNN.
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Another objective discussed among officials is whether Kurdish fighters could capture and hold territory in northern Iran, potentially creating a buffer zone that could serve Israeli strategic interests. A separate goal is to stretch Iran’s military resources thin by opening another front of conflict.
Alex Plitsas, a CNN national security analyst and former senior Pentagon official, told the network that Washington appears to be attempting to catalyse internal resistance against the Iranian government.
“The Iranian people are generally unarmed as a whole and unless the security services collapse, it’ll be difficult for them to take over unless someone arms them,” Plitsas told CNN.
“I believe the US is hopeful that this will inspire others on the ground in Iran to do the same,” he added.
Talks with Kurdish leaders and opposition groups
Trump recently spoke directly with Mustafa Hijri, the president of the Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan, one of the groups targeted by drone strikes carried out by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, as per CNN.
Trump also held discussions with Iraqi Kurdish leaders about potential cooperation as the military situation develops, the report said.
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A senior Iranian Kurdish official told CNN that opposition forces could soon begin ground operations in western Iran, adding, “We believe we have a big chance now.”
The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) declined to comment on the report, while US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said Washington’s official objectives are not based on arming any specific group.
