President Barzani Opens Secret US-IRGC Diplomatic Channel - Shafaq News
Barzani relayed U.S. overtures to Gen. Ahmad Vahidi through encrypted calls, but Iranian fears of Israeli surveillance stalled the talks.
- On Sunday, Axios reported that the administration of President Donald Trump used Kurdistan Regional Government President Nechirvan Barzani as a secret backchannel to communicate with the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps.
- During May, then-Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard contacted Barzani to verify if Revolutionary Guards commander Ahmad Vahidi supported ongoing negotiations, addressing U.S. uncertainty about who was leading the IRGC.
- Barzani, who speaks fluent Farsi and maintains ties in Tehran, connected the parties via encrypted phone where Vahidi confirmed, "I fully support them and this is also the position of the IRGC."
- Plans for secret talks in Erbil collapsed after Iranian officials expressed concerns that Israeli intelligence could target them, forcing the administration to continue negotiations through alternative mediators like Pakistan and Qatar.
- Negotiations remain at an impasse regarding the Strait of Hormuz, though Barzani recently sent messages to the United States offering to help restart the stalled communication channel between the two nations.
14 Articles
14 Articles
Iran holds Trump hostage at the negotiating table? White House finally turns to IRGC for a way out?
U.S.-Iran negotiations are reportedly at a stalemate, prompting the Trump administration to explore a secret backchannel to Iran’s powerful IRGC. According to reports, Washington sought IRGC backing for talks led by Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi’s team, with a proposed meeting in Erbil ultimately blocked by security concerns.
The American news website Axios reported that the Trump administration is seeking to open a "secret" channel of communication directly with the leadership of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, after realizing that the Iranian negotiating team does not have absolute authority...
Trump used Iraqi Kurdistan leader as secret line of communication with Iran’s IRGC
Sources familiar with the matter told Axios that the White House asked Kurdistan Regional Govt. President Nechirvan Barzani whether the IRGC had any additional demands during peace talks in May.
The Trump administration established in mid-May a secret channel with Iranian Revolutionary Guard commander Ahmad Vahidi through Iraqi Kurdistan president Nechirvan Barzani. (ANSA)
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