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  • The Kurdish Card: Can Iranian Kurds Shape the War’s Endgame?

    March 17, 2026

    Gönül Tol headshot
    Gönül Tol

    Defense and Security, Governance, Reform, and State Capacity, US Policy in the Middle East, Iran

    The war against Iran has entered its third week with no clear endgame—and no clear strategy from Washington.

    At one point President Trump appeared to encourage Iranian Kurdish groups to rise up against the regime, before quickly walking it back. Meanwhile, some exiled Kurdish opposition figures say they already have an invasion plan and only need U.S. air cover.

    The Kurdish question is once again at the center of regional politics. In this episode, we examine the role of Iranian Kurds in the opposition—and what this moment could mean for their future.

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