Trump’s Secret Back Channel: Kurdish Leader Emerges as Unlikely US-Iran Mediator

A report by Axios has revealed that Nechirvan Barzani, the leader of Iraq’s autonomous Kurdish region, has been serving as a covert intermediary between the United States and Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). According to the investigation, Barzani has conducted encrypted telephone conversations with IRGC commanders and subsequently relayed their responses directly to the White House, positioning him as a crucial back-channel player in US-Iran diplomacy.

Barzani, who is fluent in Farsi, has earned significant trust within the Trump administration for his pragmatic approach to regional problem-solving. Bert McGurk, who previously served as the US special envoy to the Middle East under multiple presidents, praised Barzani’s effectiveness, describing him as “someone who solves problems pragmatically” and “the person you want to call when you’re in trouble.”

The revelation underscores the complex web of diplomatic channels that operate behind the scenes in Middle Eastern geopolitics. As leader of the Kurdistan Regional Government in northern Iraq, Barzani occupies a unique position between major regional powers, with ties to both the United States and Iran. His fluency in Persian and established relationships with Iranian officials have made him particularly valuable for sensitive communications that official diplomatic channels might not be able to facilitate.

This arrangement reflects broader US strategy in the region, where back-channel communications through trusted regional intermediaries have become an increasingly important tool in managing relations with adversarial nations. Barzani’s role highlights how smaller regional players can punch above their weight in international diplomacy by leveraging their geographic position and relationships with multiple powers.

Source: Ynet — Original article in Hebrew.