Trump Rules Out Kurdish Ground Role in Iran, Citing Risks to Forces and Regional Stability

08-03-2026 12:25

Peregraf — President Donald Trump said Saturday that the United States does not want Kurdish forces to enter Iran, emphasizing the administration’s desire to avoid further complications in a region already roiled by conflict.

"We don’t want to see the Kurds get hurt or killed. We’ve had a good relationship with them. They’re willing to go in, but I’ve told them I don’t want them to go in," Trump said during a press briefing.

The president’s remarks come amid concerns from some Iranian officials that Kurdish groups could attempt to carve out autonomous regions in Iran, similar to the arrangements established in Syria and Iraq over the past decade.

Asked directly about the possibility, Trump reiterated his position: "We're not looking to the Kurds going in. 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."

When pressed on whether he had definitively ruled out Kurdish involvement, Trump said, "Yeah, I have ruled it out. I don't want the Kurds going in. I don't want to see the Kurds get hurt, get killed. We've had a good relation. They're willing to go in, but we really... I've told them I don't want them to go in."

On questions about the future shape of Iran, Trump offered a cautious assessment. "The war is complicated enough without getting the Kurds involved," he said. Asked if the map of Iran might look different after the conflict, he added, "I can't tell you. Probably not."

The comments underscore the United States’ continued balancing act in the region: supporting allied forces while avoiding a broader entanglement that could inflame tensions with Iran or destabilize neighboring states.