According to The Washington Post, US President Donald Trump held phone conversations with Bafel Talabani, leader of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, and Masud Barzani, head of the Democratic Party of Kurdistan, urging them to side with the United States and Israel in the war against Iran.

The newspaper cites a Kurdish official who said Trump made his position very clear during the call, telling the Kurdish leadership that they had to choose a side in the confrontation — either with America and Israel or with Iran.

The report states that Washington is asking the Iraqi Kurds to open a corridor, not interfere with the movement of Kurdish armed groups, and provide them with logistical support. The Washington Post notes that Iraqi Kurds are significantly better organized than Kurds in Iran and, despite internal divisions and difficult relations with the central government in Baghdad, maintain full control over their region and its economy.

The article recalls earlier reports in Western media that the CIA plans to supply weapons to Kurdish formations in order to draw them into hostilities in western Iran. According to journalists, Washington is now pushing for Kurdish units to begin combat operations against the Iranian army in the coming days.