Trump team couldn’t reach IRGC chief for talks, claims report:Iraqi Kurdish leader Nechirvan Barzani became secret backchannel; know about him

Amid rising tensions between the US and Iran, the two countries had established a secret channel for talks in May. According to US news website Axios, the President of Iraq’s Kurdistan Region, Nechirvan Barzani, played the role of mediator in these talks. Barzani is a leader trusted by both the US and Iran. The talks were intended to negotiate an end to the war between the US and Iran. Vice President JD Vance was leading the talks for the US, while Iran’s Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi were leading them for Iran. The US government wanted to determine whether the two Iranian negotiators had the backing of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). For this, Barzani spoke to IRGC Commander General Ahmad Vahidi. US was unable to contact IRGC chief The US itself was unable to contact Vahidi directly. In Iran, the government’s approval alone is not enough. The IRGC also plays a major role in nuclear and security matters. Therefore, the Trump team wanted to know whether the commitments being made during the talks also had the IRGC’s backing. Why the US needed Barzani Nechirvan Barzani is the President of the Kurdistan Region, located in northern Iraq. The region is part of Iraq, but it has its own government, parliament and security forces. This means it makes its own decisions in many matters. Its capital is Erbil. The Kurdistan Region has long been a close ally of the US. At the same time, because it shares a border with Iran, it also has good relations with Tehran. For this reason, Nechirvan Barzani is considered a trusted leader by both countries and has played a role in facilitating talks during periods of tension. Barzani has longstanding ties with Iran. During the Iran-Iraq War, he spent time in Iran and studied at Tehran University. He speaks Persian and has personal relationships with several senior Iranian leaders. This is why Barzani was able to serve as a trusted link between the two countries. He is regarded as a leader who tries to resolve disputes through dialogue. Had to move to Iran during Saddam Hussein’s rule During Saddam Hussein’s rule, Kurdish people faced large-scale military operations. During this period, the Barzani family had to leave Iraq and move to Iran. Nechirvan spent his early years in Iran. He studied there, learned Persian and built contacts with several influential people in the country. These connections later helped him in politics. His time in Iran also gave him a good understanding of its language, society and political system. Returned to Kurdistan in the 1990s Nechirvan Barzani returned to Kurdistan in the 1990s and became active in politics. He quickly rose through the ranks of Kurdish politics. Between 1999 and 2019, he served several terms as Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Region. In 2019, he became President of the Kurdistan Region. Today, he is considered one of the most influential leaders in Iraqi Kurdistan. Tulsi Gabbard contacted Barzani According to the report, then-US Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard first contacted Barzani around May 10. Gabbard told him that the US needed his help in getting in touch with IRGC Commander General Ahmad Vahidi. Gabbard told Barzani that she was speaking to him with the approval of President Trump and Vice President Vance. Gabbard also wanted to find out whether the IRGC had any separate demands from the US. Barzani spoke to IRGC chief on an encrypted phone Barzani agreed to Gabbard’s request, contacted the IRGC and conveyed her message to Vahidi. Vahidi then expressed a desire to speak directly with Barzani. On May 14, an IRGC officer met Barzani at his office in the capital, Erbil. The officer gave Barzani an encrypted phone so that he could speak securely with Vahidi. It was through this phone that Barzani and Vahidi held a direct conversation about the US. Barzani asked Vahidi whether he supported Ghalibaf and Araghchi, who were negotiating on behalf of Iran. Vahidi answered yes. Vahidi’s message was conveyed to the White House After the conversation, Barzani contacted Tulsi Gabbard and conveyed Vahidi’s message to her. This conversation reassured the Trump administration that Ghalibaf and Araghchi, who were negotiating on behalf of Iran, had the backing of the IRGC. The Trump administration then sought Barzani’s help with another matter. The US wanted him to host secret talks between American and Iranian delegations in Erbil. However, the meeting could not take place as Iran rejected the proposal. According to the report, the Iranian side was concerned about its security. ​