U.S. officials have told the Wall Street Journal that President Trump is exploring whether to offer support to factions inside Iran that might take up arms against the ruling authorities. The discussions, according to those officials, would put some internal Iranian groups in a position to act as ground forces with at least informal backing from Washington.
Sources said Trump spoke on Sunday with Kurdish leaders in Iran and has continued conversations with other local figures who could seek to exploit what they see as Tehran's vulnerability. The Kurdish forces maintain a substantial presence along the Iraq-Iran border, according to the officials, and there has been attention on recent Israeli strikes on positions in western Iran - actions that some observers have suggested could open a corridor for Kurdish movement.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt issued a statement noting that the president has spoken with many regional partners, but she did not explicitly confirm Trump’s specific aims in those engagements. Media reporting indicates Axios first disclosed details of the president's telephone call with the Kurdish leaders.
Officials cautioned that no final course has been chosen. They said the administration has not yet decided whether any support would include the provision of arms, the delivery of training, or the sharing of intelligence with antiregime groups inside Iran. Those options remain under consideration.
The potential U.S. posture toward armed Iranian factions reflects active engagement with a range of regional actors. While the administration has increased contact with Kurdish and other local leaders, officials emphasized the deliberative nature of any policy decision and the absence of a firm commitment to any particular form of material assistance.