AhlulBayt News Agency (ABNA): As the war between the US and Israel expands against Iran, informed sources told Axios that US President Donald Trump had separate phone calls with the main Kurdish leaders in Iraq on Sunday to discuss the developments of the war and future scenarios.
According to three American sources, Trump contacted Masoud Barzani and Bafel Talabani, the two main figures of the Kurdish political currents in Iraq, one day after the start of the airstrikes on Saturday. One source described these contacts as "sensitive" and refused to provide details about their content.
Another source claimed that these contacts were the result of months of behind-the-scenes consultations by Benjamin Netanyahu, who, according to American officials, has continuously discussed the need to attack Iran and change its political system with American officials.
According to one American official, "Netanyahu presented a comprehensive plan in a long meeting with Trump at the White House, and even discussed a possible successor in Iran and the role of various Kurdish groups."
The official added, "The general impression, especially Netanyahu's view, is that the Kurds will eventually enter the scene and rise up against Tehran."
Axios continued that in this regard, five Kurdish separatist groups based in Iraq announced the formation of a coalition called the "Iranian Kurdistan Political Forces Coalition" six days before the start of the war, with the aim of confronting Tehran.
However, Axios reported that such a plan faces serious obstacles.
The website wrote that the tense relations between the Kurds and Turkey - a US ally and NATO member - could be one of the major obstacles in this path. According to an American source, Trump also spoke with Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Meanwhile, monarchist groups feel that Netanyahu and Trump have ignored them. Axios reported that the announcement of the formation of the new coalition of Iranian Kurdish groups has been met with reactions from other currents, including a spectrum close to Reza Pahlavi.
Axios concluded, citing an American official, that some policymakers in Washington believe Netanyahu has overestimated the number of Kurds who may take up arms against Iran.
The Israeli regime has had close relations with the Kurds (especially in Iraq) since the 1960s, based on the "peripheral alliance" strategy, and provided assistance through Mossad for training, arming, and intelligence. This pattern expanded to Iranian Kurdish separatist groups (especially PJAK) after 2003. Multiple reports confirm that the occupying regime has provided PJAK and Komala with extensive equipment and training for subversive operations inside Iran in recent years.
During the 12-day war, separatist groups welcomed the attacks of the occupying regime, and the Komala and "Kurdistan Freedom Party" groups called for a nationwide uprising against the central government.
Despite all these interpretations, today’s attacks by the IRGC on the headquarters of these groups showed that Tehran is closely monitoring the developments.
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