U.S. President Donald Trump has reportedly offered American military backing, including possible air cover, to Iranian Kurdish opposition groups if they launch an offensive against the government of Ali Khamenei’s administration in Iran, according to a report by The Washington Post.
The report said Trump contacted several Kurdish political leaders in the region as tensions continue to rise between the United States, Israel and Iran.
The discussions reportedly focused on encouraging Kurdish groups based near the Iran-Iraq border to take action against Tehran’s government.
According to the newspaper, Trump offered “significant military support,” including potential U.S. air cover, if Iranian Kurdish fighters move into western Iran and open a new front against Iranian forces.
The outreach reportedly included calls with prominent Kurdish leaders such as Masoud Barzani and Bafel Talabani in Iraq’s semi-autonomous Kurdish region, as well as discussions with opposition figures like Mustafa Hijri of the Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan.
Iranian Kurdish opposition groups have long opposed the Iranian government and have bases in northern Iraq.
Some of these groups have recently formed alliances and said they are ready to challenge Tehran’s authority if conditions allow.
However, analysts warn that such a move could greatly widen the conflict in the Middle East.
Iran has already carried out missile and drone strikes against Kurdish militant bases in Iraq, accusing them of supporting attacks on Iranian territory.
Kurdish leaders have reportedly responded cautiously to the proposal, worried that launching an offensive could trigger stronger retaliation from Iran and destabilize the wider region.
U.S. intelligence officials have also denied claims that the CIA is currently supplying weapons to the Kurdish groups, the report said.
The situation comes as fighting involving the United States, Israel and Iran continues to raise concerns about a wider regional war.
