Full Breakdown
Secret U.S.–Iran Backchannel Through Kurdish Leader Nechirvan Barzani
8/16/2026, 11:49:23 PM
Core Event in May 2024
In early May, the Trump administration turned to Kurdistan Regional Government President Nechirvan Barzani as a covert conduit to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Axios reported that on May 10, former Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard called Barzani with President Donald Trump’s approval, asking him to determine whether IRGC commander Gen. Ahmad Vahidi supported the negotiating stance of Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf. Barzani, who lived in Iran during the 1980s, studied at the University of Tehran, and speaks fluent Farsi, relayed the request to his Tehran contacts.
On May 14, Barzani facilitated a secure phone call between Vahidi and an IRGC official in Erbil. Vahidi affirmed, “I fully support them and this is also the position of the IRGC. We prefer to solve this crisis through negotiations.” Barzani briefed Gabbard, who in turn updated the White House. The administration subsequently floated the idea of hosting secret senior-level talks in Erbil. Iranian officials did not reject the venue but expressed security concerns that Israeli intelligence agents might target participants in Iraqi Kurdistan or during travel, leading the meeting to be abandoned. Pakistani and Omani (later Qatari) mediators have continued to shuttle messages, while the negotiations remain stalled over the Strait of Hormuz. Barzani has recently signaled willingness to help restart the talks.
Key Figures and Their Roles
- Nechirvan Barzani – President of the Kurdistan Regional Government; acted as the backchannel liaison.
- Tulsi Gabbard – Former Director of National Intelligence; initiated the outreach with Trump’s consent.
- Ahmad Vahidi – IRGC commander and Iranian interior minister; expressed IRGC support for negotiations.
- Brett McGurk – Former NSC Middle-East coordinator; described Barzani as a “pragmatic problem solver” trusted by both Washington and Tehran.
Official Statements & Ongoing Stalemate
- Axios reported the administration’s request and the subsequent proposal to hold talks in Erbil.
- A source told Axios that Iranian officials feared Israeli intelligence could assassinate participants, prompting the cancellation of the Erbil meeting.
- Pakistani and Omani (later Qatari) mediators continue to convey messages, but progress remains limited.
Verbatim Quote
“I fully support them, and this is also the position of the IRGC. We prefer to solve this crisis through negotiations,” — Ahmad Vahidi, iranian interior minister
