The Kurds, with a population of 30-40 million, could play a role in the conflict between the USA and Iran, having a history of military cooperation with Washington.

Being one of the largest stateless peoples in the world, the Kurds could become an important actor in the conflict between the United States and Iran. The Trump administration is considering the possibility of collaborating with Kurdish groups to create pressure on the regime in Tehran. With an estimated population of 30-40 million, spread across Turkey, Iran, Iraq, and Syria, the Kurds have a long history of conflicts with the governments in the region and have demonstrated military effectiveness through their militias, the peshmerga.

Although they have ancient roots, the Kurds have failed to establish their own state after the collapse of the Ottoman Empire. Kurdish nationalism has been consistently repressed by authoritarian regimes, and external interventions have led to devastating internal conflicts. In Turkey, the conflict with the PKK has resulted in thousands of deaths, and in Iraq, Saddam Hussein used chemical weapons against the Kurds.

In Iran, the Kurdish regions have been points of tension, especially following the internal protests in 2022. The Kurds played an essential role in the fight against the Islamic State, bolstering the reputation of the peshmerga. If the U.S. were to decide to collaborate with the Kurds in Iran, they could control territories, but Kurdish leaders in Iraq prefer to remain neutral, aware of the risks involved. Thus, the Kurds continue to rely on the mountains as their only protectors.