Iranian Kurdish militias located in the semiautonomous region of Iraqi Kurdistan have held consultations with United States officials in recent days about the feasibility and execution of strikes against Iran's security forces in the country's western provinces, according to three people familiar with the discussions.
The Kurdish coalition, which operates near the Iran-Iraq border, has been conducting training in preparation for a potential cross-border operation. The groups say their aim would be to erode Iran's military capability while U.S. and Israeli forces continue to strike Iranian targets from the air, the sources said. They added that the effort is intended to open space for Iranians who oppose the Islamic regime to mobilize, citing the reported deaths of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and other senior officials since the U.S.-Israeli attacks began on Saturday.
Those familiar with the plans stressed that no final decision has been made on whether to proceed or on the timing of any action. The sources, who requested anonymity to discuss sensitive military planning, said Kurdish leaders have formally asked for U.S. military support. Officials in Erbil and Baghdad have also engaged with the Trump administration in recent days, according to the sources.
Discussions between the Kurdish forces and U.S. officials reportedly include requests for intelligence and weapons assistance. Two of the sources said the groups are seeking help from the Central Intelligence Agency to provide weapons and assistance. Media reports earlier this week flagged potential CIA involvement and noted a presidential telephone call with Iraqi Kurdistan leaders; those reports are referenced by the sources but the exact level of any CIA role is unclear.
Independent confirmation of the CIA's participation in planning, weapons facilitation, or any deployment of U.S. personnel into Iran alongside Kurdish fighters was not available. U.S. defense and administration spokespeople did not provide immediate comment when asked. Officials representing the Kurdish Regional Government also did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
U.S. support would likely be necessary
Any operation originating from Iraqi territory would probably require substantial U.S. military and intelligence support, the sources said. The Pentagon has previously described U.S. bases in Erbil as logistical hubs that supported the international coalition against Islamic State militants, and Kurdish groups in Iraqi Kurdistan have a documented history of cooperation with the United States during past conflicts.
Relationships between Washington and Kurdish groups have at times been strained because of shifting allegiances and divergent ideologies among the various Kurdish factions. The Kurdish forces envisioned for this operation display varying levels of combat experience, and the sources said it remains uncertain how effective they would be against Iran's security services inside Iranian territory.
One person cited by external media described a concept in which Kurdish armed units would engage Iranian security forces to create a security gap in which unarmed Iranian civilians might mobilize in urban centers. The sources noted there is no clear consensus on how such a move would be received by other regional governments.
Regional ramifications and uncertainties
An armed Kurdish incursion could carry serious consequences for Iran's internal cohesion, the sources warned. The emergence of a more robust Kurdish insurgency inside Iran could feed separatist sentiment among other ethnic minorities, including the Baluch population, which maintains connections with separatist elements across the border in Pakistan's restive Baluchistan province. The sources said it is unlikely that Islamabad would accept any momentum toward Baluch independence.
Turkey's stance is also relevant to the calculus. Ankara has previously viewed Kurdish arrangements in neighboring Syria as a factor in regional stability and has threatened military operations against Kurdish forces if they resisted central government control. Turkish officials have pursued long-standing efforts to manage their conflict with the Kurdistan Workers Party and, the sources said, would probably be unsympathetic to the arming of Kurdish groups close to its borders.
What remains unresolved
- Whether a final decision to move forward with a cross-border operation will be taken by the Kurdish coalition.
- The precise level and nature of any U.S. support - including whether the CIA or other U.S. agencies have facilitated weapons or planning assistance - remains unclear.
- How regional governments and local populations inside Iran would react to an armed Kurdish offensive.
Sources emphasized that planning is ongoing and that the situation remains fluid. The Kurdish groups' requests for assistance and contacts with U.S. and Iraqi officials underscore the potential for a coordinated effort, but multiple political and operational uncertainties persist.
Summary: Kurdish militias based in Iraqi Kurdistan have engaged U.S. officials in recent days about a possible attack on Iran's security forces in the west of the country. The groups are reported to have trained for such an operation, seek U.S. military and CIA help with weapons and intelligence, and want to create space for Iranian opposition following the reported deaths of top Iranian leaders. No final decision or clear timetable has been announced, and the extent of U.S. involvement remains unconfirmed.