Turkey Blocks US-Israeli Plan to Use Kurds Against Iran

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan issued an ultimatum to U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, warning that Turkey would provide immediate air support to Iran if armed Kurdish separatist organizations attacked Iranian territory. This intervention follows reports of a Mossad-led plan, backed by the CIA, to trigger an internal uprising and execute a coup in Iran using Kurdish forces and former president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi confirmed that Turkey helped prevent Kurdish groups based in Iraqi Kurdistan from launching a ground incursion during a 40-day war that began on February 28, 2026. Araghchi stated that Donald Trump contacted Kurdish armed groups on the fourth day of that conflict to support an offensive aimed at dividing Iran and toppling its government. Turkey reportedly took a firm position with the United States to ensure the plot failed, while Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan warned U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio against supporting PJAK ground attacks.

Donald Trump claimed the U.S. attempted to supply weapons to Iranian protesters via Kurdish groups in Iraqi Kurdistan, though he alleged the Kurds withheld those weapons. While Trump previously suggested a Kurdish fight against the Iranian regime would be beneficial, he eventually abandoned the plan. Iran continues to conduct strikes against Kurdish groups in Iraqi Kurdistan, including a July 17 attack that killed nine Komala fighters.