CIA Allegedly Arming Iranian Kurds to Spark Uprising Against Tehran Regime
The Central Intelligence Agency is reportedly engaged in efforts to arm Kurdish forces within Iran, aiming to spark a significant uprising against the remnants of the regime in Tehran. This development comes amid an ongoing bombing campaign by the United States and Israel targeting Iran, heightening tensions in the region.
Trump Administration in Active Communication with Kurdish Leaders
Donald Trump's administration is understood to have been in active communication with minority groups inside Iran, including Kurdish leaders based in neighbouring Iraq. These discussions could potentially lead to the provision of military support for Kurdish forces. Iranian Kurds, who maintain forces along the Iraq-Iran border, have suggested they could launch operations with objectives ranging from greater autonomy to the creation of an independent Kurdish state.
Iran's Revolutionary Guard has initiated bombing campaigns against Kurdish positions in a preemptive bid to thwart any potential attacks. According to a senior Kurdish official, Trump has personally spoken with the president of the Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan, indicating high-level engagement.
Planned Ground Offensive and Expected Support
Iranian Kurdish forces are reportedly set to commence a ground offensive in Western Iran within the next few days. A source informed CNN that "We believe we have a big chance now," adding that militias anticipate receiving support from both the United States and Israel. Trump is also said to have called Iraqi Kurdish leaders over the weekend to discuss the US military operation in Iran and explore collaborative efforts as the mission progresses, according to two US officials and a third source familiar with the conversations.
However, any attempt to arm Kurdish militias in Iran would necessitate the support of their counterparts in Iraq, who would use Iraqi Kurdistan as a strategic hub to launch operations from. One individual familiar with the discussions explained that the plan involves Kurdish armed forces engaging Iranian security forces to pin them down, thereby making it easier for unarmed Iranians in major cities to protest with reduced risk of the massacres witnessed in the region in January.
Challenges and Strategic Implications
Another US official noted that Kurdish actions could incite chaos in the region and force a conflict with the Iranian regime, potentially stretching the Revolutionary Guard too thin. Despite this, a broader uprising in Iran faces significant hurdles, as much of the population remains unarmed. Alex Plitsas, a senior Pentagon official under Barack Obama, commented that the US is "clearly trying to jump-start" an uprising.
He elaborated: "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. I believe the US is hopeful that this will inspire others on the ground in Iran to do the same."
It remains uncertain whether any uprising would plunge Iran into greater turmoil or if an independent Kurdish state would gain acceptance from a new Iranian regime or other Middle Eastern nations. Countries such as Iraq, Syria, and Turkey, which host Kurdish separatist movements, add complexity to the situation. Several Kurdish groups have issued public statements since the war's onset, hinting at imminent action and urging Iranian military forces to defect.
