Trump Urges Iranian Kurds to Attack Tehran, But Will He Help Them?

President Trump said on Thursday it would be "great" if Iranian Kurds attacked the Tehran regime from bases in Iraq. The Kurdistan Democratic Party of Iran (KDPI) confirmed it is in contact with the U.S., hoping for support to overthrow the Iranian government. KDPI leaders declined to specify whether Washington had promised arms aid, only stating the question was "too sensitive." This lightly armed group has not yet received direct U.S. support. On Friday, KDPI bases in Northern Iraq were hit by two missiles and three drones, with no casualties reported. Kurds fear being abandoned, as they have been previously in Iraq and Syria.

Trump's call sounds familiar to the Kurds. Since the 1970s, Washington has repeatedly encouraged Kurdish forces to fight, only to abandon them once their usefulness expired. Henry Kissinger bluntly stated: "Covert action should not be confused with missionary work."

This time, the scale is different. Iran is not ISIS. Tehran possesses thousands of drones, ballistic missiles, sophisticated intelligence, and a formidable army. The KDPI is merely a lightly armed group with many young female fighters, stationed 50 km from the Iranian border. Without U.S. air support, they would be an easy target.

The crucial question: Is Trump serious about overthrowing Tehran, or does he merely want to exert pressure? He demanded Iran's "unconditional surrender," but the ultimate goal remains vague. If it's merely a limited punitive strike, the Kurds will again become sacrificial pawns.

Iran's attack on the Kurdish base immediately after Trump's statement indicates that Tehran considers this a real threat. The two missiles and three drones on Friday were a clear warning. If the KDPI advances into Iran without U.S. air cover, disaster is unavoidable.

The Syrian Kurdish group (SDF) just lost 80% of its territory in a few weeks after Washington withdrew. Thomas Barrack, Trump's Syria envoy, explicitly stated that the anti-ISIS coalition "had expired." A painful lesson for anyone who trusts promises from the White House.

There is no guarantee Trump will be different this time. He might urge the Kurds to fight today, then abandon them tomorrow if a deal with Tehran is reached. KDPI leaders know this but still consider it an opportunity.