U.S. relies on Barzani as backchannel to Iran’s IRGC
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – U.S. officials turned to Iraqi Kurdistan President Nechirvan Barzani to act as a backchannel to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) during attempts to end the war, the American news site Axios reported on Sunday.
According to three sources familiar with the talks, the move came in mid-May after U.S. negotiators became concerned that Iranian officials involved in the talks did not have the authority to reach an agreement with Washington.
Then-U.S. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard called Barzani around May 10 and asked him to establish contact with IRGC commander Gen. Ahmad Vahidi, according to two sources familiar with the call.
Barzani had longstanding ties to Iran, having lived there during the Iran-Iraq war and studied at the University of Tehran. He also speaks Farsi and maintains relationships with senior Iranian officials, including members of the IRGC.
Barzani agreed to help and arranged a direct conversation with Vahidi in Erbil on May 14. An IRGC official arrived at Barzani’s office with an encrypted phone for the call.
Barzani asked whether Vahidi supported the negotiations being conducted by Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. Vahidi said he fully supported the talks and that the IRGC favored resolving the crisis through negotiations, according to a source familiar with the conversation.
“I fully support them and this is also the position of the IRGC. We prefer to solve this crisis through negotiations,” Vahidi said.
Barzani then briefed Gabbard, who informed the White House.
The administration subsequently proposed secret talks between senior U.S. and Iranian negotiators in Erbil, with Barzani hosting the meeting. Iran did not reject the idea but raised concerns about the security of its officials and the possibility of Israeli attacks in Iraqi Kurdistan.
The proposed meeting never took place.
Pakistani and Qatari mediators continue to exchange messages between Washington and Tehran, although regional sources say there has been little progress.
Barzani has recently offered to help restart U.S.-Iran negotiations, according to a source familiar with the matter.