How arming the Kurds in Iran could lead to "civil war on steroids"

Washington appears to be exploring a familiar playbook: arming Kurdish groups to add pressure on the Iranian regime. But according to Brookings Senior Fellow Thomas Wright , the strategy is murky and potentially risky. Reports suggest the US may consider aiding Kurdish militants inside Iran, including PJAK, a group affiliated with the PKK. That connection alone could inflame tensions with Turkey, which views the PKK as a terrorist organization and a direct threat to its national security.

Any move that strengthens Kurdish armed groups could also disrupt the fragile peace process between Ankara and Kurdish militants. Without a clear plan for what comes after increased pressure on Tehran, actions meant to weaken the regime could destabilize the country instead—potentially fragmenting Iran and creating a geopolitical vacuum in the Middle East.