Why does Trump want Kurdish fighters to join the war in Iran? – The Latest

Summary

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Podcast Summary:

Today in Focus – The Latest
Episode: Why does Trump want Kurdish fighters to join the war in Iran?
Date: March 5, 2026
Host: Nosheen (Noshi) Iqbal
Guest: Devika Bhatt, Deputy Head of International News, The Guardian

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Main Theme

The episode dives into the evolving strategy of the US and Israel under Donald Trump, focusing on alleged plans to arm and fund Kurdish militia groups to open a new front against Iran. It explores the risks, motivations, and geopolitical complexities of involving Kurdish fighters and other minority groups in the conflict, as well as the impact on Iranian civilians and the region’s stability.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The "New Front" in the Iran Conflict

• Timestamp: [01:04], [02:12]
  Devika Bhatt introduces the notion of a potential new front in the Iran conflict, reporting that Iranian forces have launched airstrikes on Kurdish territory in Iraq, allegedly targeting Kurdish groups suspected of collaborating with foreign powers.

  "It's difficult to know whether Trump and his advisors really have a sense of what they're dealing with in terms of the complexities of Iran and Iranian society."
  – Devika Bhatt [01:04]

• The attack is seen as a pre-emptive response by Tehran to suggestions that the US and Israel will work with Kurdish forces inside Iran.

2. Why the Kurds? Historical and Strategic Context

• Timestamp: [02:53], [03:08]
  Bhatt outlines the historical relationship between the US and Kurdish groups, highlighting past collaborations such as during the second Gulf War and the ISIS conflict, where Kurdish forces like the Syrian Democratic Forces were instrumental.

  "By the time we got to the defeat of ISIS, Syrian Democratic Forces, which was a Kurdish force, was controlling huge swathes of the territory."
  – Devika Bhatt [03:08]

• Kurds are a significant minority in Iran (about 10%), long repressed by the ruling regime, and while the US/Israel have a clear objective to recruit them, the willingness of Kurdish groups to participate remains uncertain.

3. Other Minority Groups Recruited – Risking Civil War

• Timestamp: [04:23], [04:42]
  Noshi raises reports that other minority militia groups (such as Baloch fighters) are being approached to join the anti-Tehran effort. The discussion turns to the potential for these moves to spark a broader internal conflict.

  "One has to wonder, is the aim here for there to be a full blown civil war?"
  – Noshi Iqbal [04:23]

• Bhatt stresses the complexities of Iranian society, drawing parallels with the US’s failures to grasp Iraq’s sectarian dynamics during its occupation.

  "It feels like there's a very real risk this could collapse into something much worse for both Iran, the Iranian people and the world at large."
  – Devika Bhatt [04:42]

4. Civilian Suffering and Changing US Rhetoric

• Timestamp: [05:35], [06:16]
  The conversation shifts to the real human toll of the conflict, with underreported stories of Iranian civilians. Specific mention is made of US/Israeli airstrikes on civilian targets including schools and hospitals, with the horrific example of a girls' school in Minab where 165 children died.

  "We've seen that horrific incident in southern Iran where that girl school, the Minab, 165 children dead. Devika, how on earth does the US and Israel explain that...?"
  – Noshi Iqbal [05:35]

• Bhatt notes that the US, represented by Defense Secretary Hegseth, seems less restrained by the usual 'rules of engagement':

  "Indeed, he used the phrase 'stupid rules of engagement.'"
  – Devika Bhatt [06:16]

Notable Quote:

"America, regardless of what so-called international institutions say, is unleashing the most lethal and precise air power campaign in history, all on our terms with maximum authorities. No stupid rules of engagement, no nation building quagmire, no democracy building exercise, no politically correct wars. We fight to win and we don't waste time or lives. As the President warned, an effort of this scope will include casualties."
– Mike Pompeo reading Defense Secretary statement [06:48]

Bhatt underscores that the "gloves are off," and the US is overtly prioritizing military victory over civilian protection or international opinion.

5. Leadership Succession Crisis in Tehran

• Timestamp: [07:41], [07:58]
  Attention turns to Iran’s internal politics—Ayatollah Khamenei’s succession. Devika explains that Khamenei’s son, Mujtaba, a hardliner believed to have orchestrated protest crackdowns, is the front-runner.

  "He is believed to have played a key role in the sort of suppression of protesters in 2008..."
  – Devika Bhatt [07:58]

• This succession is rejected by Iranian protesters and criticized by Trump as "someone who was worse than the last guy."

• Both US and Israeli officials have indicated Mujtaba is a direct target in the ongoing conflict.

  "Israel has said that he is a sitting target. Now, this war is far from over and Israel and the US has made that clear."
  – Devika Bhatt [09:06]

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the complexity of Iranian society and Western intervention:

  "It's difficult to know whether Trump and his advisors really have a sense of what they're dealing with..."
  – Devika Bhatt [01:04]

• On American military tactics:

  "No stupid rules of engagement, no nation building quagmire..."
  – [Mike Pompeo quoting Defense Secretary Hegseth, 06:48]

• On Iranian civilian suffering:

  "...the US and Israel, they're striking hospitals, they're striking schools. We've seen that horrific incident in southern Iran where that girl school, the Minab, 165 children dead..."
  – Noshi Iqbal [05:35]

• On targeting Iran's next leader:

  "Israel has said that he is a sitting target."
  – Devika Bhatt [09:06]

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Important Segment Timestamps

• [01:04] – Introduction of the new front in the conflict, US/Israel plans regarding Kurds
• [02:53] – History of Kurdish collaboration with the US
• [04:23] – Involvement of other ethnic militias, risk of civil war
• [05:35] – Civilian impact and targeting of non-military sites
• [06:48] – Defense Secretary's 'no stupid rules' doctrine, US stance on engagement
• [07:41] – Leadership succession in Tehran; risks surrounding Mujtaba Khamenei
• [09:06] – Mujtaba Khamenei as an explicit target

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Overall Tone & Ending Thoughts

The discussion maintains a sober, urgent tone, stressing the potentially catastrophic consequences of external powers seeking to exploit Iran’s internal divisions. Both speakers express skepticism over US/Israeli understanding of Iran’s social fabric and deep concern for the safety and well-being of Iranian civilians caught in the crossfire.

"It feels like the US is sort of making it very clear that this is a war it wants to win regardless of the cost, which is a really kind of terrifying proposition for everyone." – Devika Bhatt [07:18]

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For listeners:
This episode offers a concise but nuanced snapshot of the escalating Iran war, focusing on the controversial strategy of recruiting Kurdish—and other minority—fighters, the human toll, and the perilous uncertainty around Iran’s future leadership.

Transcript

[Devika Bhatt]

This is the Guardian.

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[Devika Bhatt]

This looks like it's a new front. There are increasing suggestions that the Americans and Israelis want to work with Kurdish forces on the ground in Iran. It's difficult to know whether Trump and his advisors really have a sense of what they're dealing with in terms of the complexities of Iran and Iranian society. It feels like there's a very real risk this could collapse into something much worse for Iran, the Iranian people and the world at large.

[Noshi Nikbal]

As the US And Israel look to armed militia groups in Iran, could it spark civil war? From the Guardians today In Focus, this is the latest. With me, Noshi Neqbal. Joining me today is the Guardian's deputy head of international news, Devika Bhatt. Devika, thank you so much for joining us.

[Devika Bhatt]

Thanks for having me.

[Noshi Nikbal]

Now, from everything we're reading, this war is about to take on a dramatic new phase. There's reports that the US And Israel are about to armed fund Kurdish militia groups to launch an attack on Iran. Could you explain first of all, Devaka, just how do the Kurds figure in this conflict?

[Devika Bhatt]

Yeah, sure. So yes, you're right. This looks like it's a new front. And indeed, what we've seen happen today is actually Iranian forces attack Kurdish territory in Iraq so preemptively. Well, so this feeds, I think into what we think might be happening. So Tehran is sort of saying it's hit hit Iraqi based Kurdish groups. So huge waves of airstrikes hitting dozens of military positions, the frontier posts. And yes, this comes as we think there are increasing suggestions that the Americans and Israelis want to work with Kurdish forces on the ground in Iran.

[Noshi Nikbal]

And this isn't the first time that the US has called on Kurdish peshmergas to be their Boots on the ground, so to speak. Devika, what has that relationship looked like in the past? And why would the Kurds want to take up this so called opportunity? What's in it for them?

[Devika Bhatt]

So in Iran, it's a Persian majority, but there are lots of other significant minority groups, including the Kurds. There are Kurdish groups in other parts of that sort of neck of the woods too, regionally. So there's this sort of informal Kurdistan area. But the Kurds have never had their own state. But yes, in Iran they constitute about 10% of the population and have long been repressed by the ruling regime. So it has to be said, so far are, we think, on the American and Israeli side, this is definitely an objective. The extent to which the Kurdish groups want to do this is unclear. There have been various sort of statements about that today. There's been some denials about the extent of their involvement, but it's clearly an objective from the Americans and the Israelis, as far as we can tell. But yes, you're right, there's been a long history of cooperation between the US And Kurdish groups. We did see that during the second Gulf War in Iraq, but most recently we saw that in the fighting against Islamic State in Iraq and Syria. To the extent that the Kurds ended up playing a huge role in that conflict, really kind of supporting the Americans, really helping in that effort. To the extent that by the time we got to the defeat of isis, Syrian Democratic Forces, which was a Kurdish force, was controlling huge swathes of the territory.

[Noshi Nikbal]

I guess they're not the only militant group that have also been approached. Right. I mean, we're reading reports about balochies and other armed forces, like small ethnic minorities are being recruited potentially by the US And Israel. And I mean, one has to wonder, is the aim here for there to be a full blown out civil war? Like what? How does one explain that?

[Devika Bhatt]

Yeah, so I think that's a really interesting question that we have to now see play out. It's going to be critical to what happens inside Iran. As you say, Iran is this very kind of complex society made up, you know, of a huge number of different groups. And it's unclear whether the US Understands the nature of that complexity. You know, of course, the shadow of the Iraq war sort of looms large in one's memory here at the start of the war. It's unclear how much the sort of Western occupation of Iraq was even thinking about sort of Sunni, Shia tensions. And we saw how that ended up. And here it's difficult to know whether Trump and his Advisors really have a sense of what they're dealing with in terms of the complexities of Iran and Iranian society. So it feels like there's a very real risk this could collapse into something much worse for both Iran, the Iranian people and the world at large.

[Noshi Nikbal]

And all the while, of course, we talk about the big geopolitical questions, but it is the Iranian civilians who are absolutely suffering in this. And you know, largely their stories have been underreported. Obviously there's difficulties in getting information out of Tehran, but we know that the US and Israel, they're striking hospitals, they're striking schools. We've seen that horrific incident in southern Iran where that girl school, the minab, 165 children dead. Devika, how on earth does the US and Israel explain that when the line is that this war is about targeting military targets, it's about that and not about the Iranian people and targeting them.

[Devika Bhatt]

So I think what we've seen this time, and it's really interesting because I think that is right, typically in this sort of situation, the US does say it's a very kind of calculated targeted military operation. In this occasion, actually, I don't think we've necessarily seen that. We've seen Hegseth, the Defense Secretary make these statements that have met with a lot of kind of international criticism because it seems to be sort of saying straight up that this is not a war in which they feel bound by the usual rules of engagement. Indeed, he used the phrase stupid rules of engagement.

[Mike Pompeo]

America, regardless of what so called international institutions say, is unleashing the most lethal and precise air power campaign in history, all on our terms with maximum authorities. No stupid rules of engagement, no nation building quagmire, no democracy building exercise, no politically correct wars. We fight to win and we don't waste time or lives. As the President warned, an effort of this scope will include casualties.

[Devika Bhatt]

And so it feels like the fact that the gloves are off in this war is being fully broadcast by the US up front with the result that of course you get these horrendous civilian casualties. And it feels like the US is sort of making it very clear that this is a war it wants to win regardless of the cost, which is a really kind of terrifying proposition for everyone.

[Noshi Nikbal]

And then in Tehran, of course, there is a succession process to replace Ayatollah Khamenei. And the frontrunner at the moment seems to be his son, Mujtabar Devika. What can you tell me about him and what would his leadership do with the regime? Like how would it impact what that regime then does.

[Devika Bhatt]

So what we know about him is so far he hasn't been hugely public facing, but he is believed to be hugely influential behind the scenes. He is a hardliner. He is believed to have played a key role in the sort of suppression of protesters in 2008 where we saw some really, really big protests. And he's believed to have played a big part in sort of putting those down. So he is very much a hardliner. And what that means both inside Iran and in terms of the international or American response feels uncertain. So inside Iran there have obviously been these huge protests in the run up to the war. And having another hardliner who is indeed the son of the previous hardliner feels like that wouldn't be something that would be satisfactory to the people who are out protest. And similarly in the U.S. i mean, Trump has said this week that the worst possible outcome would be, in a typically sort of Trumpian phrase, someone who was worse than the last guy. And again, it's hard to see how this appointment would make the US happy.

[Noshi Nikbal]

But presumably he's also a sitting target, right?

[Devika Bhatt]

Absolutely. And actually Israel has made that clear. So Israel has said that he is a sitting target. Now, this war is far from over and Israel and the US has made that clear. And it's made clear it is going, going after the very top of the Iranian leadership. So, yes, it does feel like there's a bit of a target on his back now.

[Noshi Nikbal]

Well, Devika, thank you for your time.

[Devika Bhatt]

Thanks so much for having me.

[Noshi Nikbal]

That's it for today. My huge thanks again to Devika Bhatt, our deputy head of international news. Thanks for listening to this episode of the latest Today in Focus. We'll be back with you as usual tomorrow morning and we'll be back tomorrow night. This episode was presented by me, Noshi Nikbal. The producer was Nicola Alexandru, the senior producer was Ryan Ramgobin and the lead producer was Zoe Hitch.

[Devika Bhatt]

This is the Guardian.

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