CIA working to arm Kurdish forces to spark uprising in Iran, sources say
Source: CNN Politics
Updated Mar 3, 2026, 5:01 PM ET
PUBLISHED Mar 3, 2026, 4:52 PM ET
The CIA is working to arm Kurdish forces with the aim of fomenting a popular uprising in Iran, multiple people familiar with the plan told CNN. The Trump administration has been in active discussions with Iranian opposition groups and Kurdish leaders in Iraq about providing them with military support, the sources said.
Iranian Kurdish armed groups have thousands of forces operating along the Iraq-Iran border, primarily in Iraq’s Kurdistan region. Several of the groups have released public statements since the beginning of the war hinting at imminent action and urging Iranian military forces to defect. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has been striking Kurdish groups and said on Tuesday that it targeted Kurdish forces with dozens of drones.
Also on Tuesday, President Donald Trump spoke with the president of the Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan (KDPI), Mustafa Hijri, according to a senior Iranian Kurdish official. KDPI was one of the groups targeted by the IRGC.
Iranian Kurdish opposition forces are expected to take part in a ground operation in Western Iran, in the coming days, the senior Iranian Kurdish official told CNN. “We believe we have a big chance now,” the source said, explaining the timing of the operation. The source added the militias expects US and Israeli support.
Read more: https://www.cnn.com/2026/03/03/politics/cia-arming-kurds-iran
OMFG this is pouring gasoline on the fire.
Almost a year ago, the PKK in Turkey after 40 years of fighting, finally came to an agreement to disarm when Turkey offered some concessions - Conflict Between Turkey and Armed Kurdish Groups
We basically abandoned Syria after the Kurds there helped to run Assad off. Now we're going to rile up yet another faction.
= new reply since forum marked as read
As I posted in another thread - https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1014&pid=3626230
Iran�s Rare Earth and Lithium Industries Strategic Development Analysis
It's all about the "tech bros" and making chips.
And this applies to Venezuela too -
Link to tweet
@KobeissiLetter
What about the rare earths?
Venezuela has significant, yet largely undeveloped, deposits of rare earth elements.
These are some of the same elements that nearly prompted new US 100% tariffs on China on October 10th.
Most of these undeveloped rare earth deposits sit in Venezuela's Orinoco Mining Arc.
Venezuelan government sources historically claimed the Orinoco Mining Arc holds at least ~300,000 metric tons of rare earth elements.
This could be worth well over $200 billion once exploration starts.
As the AI Revolution explodes, the value of these rare earths is skyrocketing.
President Trump has also stated the importance of rare earths to his Administration multiple times, including those held in Ukraine and China.
We think this will soon be the next focus point.
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The Kobeissi Letter
@KobeissiLetter
·
Jan 4
The Venezuela plot thickens:
While Venezuela holds 303 BILLION barrels of oil reserves, much of this is HEAVY crude oil.
Texas and Louisiana also *happen* to have 6 of the LARGEST HEAVY crude oil refineries in the world.
What does this mean? Let us explain.
(a thread)
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1:34 PM · Jan 4, 2026
I suspect the biggest funders of 45's campaign were not the old school "oil barons" or "media barons" but the "tech bros", who need those mineral resources for more chips for their "tech". This is why all that crap with Greenland -
45 is spouting "oil" (because he is still stuck in that era), but some "tech bro"-associated advisor is whispering in his ear to go for other things that THEY need.
the Shah Pahlavi and the rise of his SAVAK terror thugs.
1953 coup in Iran
https://www.britannica.com/event/1953-coup-in-Iran