Trump tells Kurds not to enter Iran war, citing escalation risk

2026-03-08 - 12:02

US President Donald Trump confirmed Saturday that Washington has intervened to prevent Kurdish armed groups from entering the widening conflict with Iran, expressing concern that their participation could dangerously escalate an already volatile situation. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One en route to Miami, Trump disclosed that despite recent media reports suggesting American engagement with Kurdish forces in Iraq, the administration has explicitly advised against their involvement. "We're very friendly with the Kurds, as you know, but we don't want to make the war any more complex than it already is," Trump stated, acknowledging Kurdish willingness to fight but emphasizing Washington's decision to block their entry. The president framed the move as protective, adding: "I don't want the Kurds going in. I don't want to see the Kurds get hurt, get killed." Post-War Vision for Iran Trump offered a sweeping vision of postwar Iran, suggesting that the Islamic Republic's territorial integrity and political structure could undergo fundamental transformation. When asked whether Iran's borders would remain intact following the conflict, the president responded: "That I can't tell you. Probably not," implying potential territorial adjustments that would redraw the regional map. The president also signaled American ambitions for political change in Tehran, stating that Washington wants "to pick a president that's not leading them into war." The remark represents one of the clearest expressions yet of US intentions to influence Iran's internal governance following the current military campaign, which has already eliminated significant portions of the country's leadership. Leadership Decimation Claims Trump asserted that American strikes have systematically dismantled Iran's command structure, claiming: "We got rid of the top leadership, and we got rid of the second level of leadership." He described the current Iranian leadership as operating at its "third or fourth level," suggesting profound degradation of the Islamic Republic's governing capacity since the Feb. 28 launch of joint US-Israeli attacks. The campaign has indeed killed hundreds, including Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and numerous senior security officials, creating unprecedented uncertainty within Iran's power structure. Tehran has responded with missile and drone barrages targeting Israel and Gulf states hosting American assets, though Trump characterized Iran's military capacity as now "almost nonexistent." Nuclear Considerations and Russian Role Addressing potential future operations, Trump indicated that deploying US ground troops to secure enriched uranium at Iranian nuclear sites "could be considered at a later stage, but not now." The president distinguished between current aerial operations and any eventual ground intervention, saying: "At some point, maybe we will, that would be a great thing, but right now we're just decimating them." On the question of external support for Tehran, Trump stated he had "no indication" that Moscow is backing Iran, despite longstanding military cooperation between Russia and the Islamic Republic. Asked about the conflict's duration, the president adopted an open-ended posture, saying the war would continue for "whatever it takes" to achieve American objectives. Regional Implications Trump's decision to bar Kurdish participation carries significant implications for regional dynamics, particularly given longstanding Turkish concerns about Kurdish armed groups operating near its borders. Ankara has consistently warned against any scenario in which Kurdish forces might gain strength or territory amid regional instability, viewing such developments as direct threats to its national security. The president's hints at possible border changes and leadership replacement in Tehran will further alarm regional capitals already grappling with the conflict's destabilizing effects. Gulf states hosting US assets face difficult calculations as the war expands, while Iran's neighbors brace for potential refugee flows and spillover violence should the Islamic Republic's territorial integrity indeed come into question.