An Iraqi leader became Trump's backchannel to Iran's Guard Corps for negotiations. Here's why

In mid-May, US President Donald Trump's administration sought an unconventional approach to reach a ceasefire with Iran. Rather than relying on Iranian negotiators, they turned to the leadership of Iraq's Kurdistan region. The key figure involved was Nechirvan Barzani, the President of the Kurdistan region. Barzani, who was fluent in Farsi and had personal connections with senior Iranian regime members, was seen as a trusted mediator by both the US and the Iranian regime.

Barzani was contacted by then-US Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard to reach out directly to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) leadership. While a ceasefire was eventually reached, it was short-lived as both countries began negotiations to end the conflict after an initial ceasefire on April 8 and a summit in Islamabad.

During these negotiations, US officials faced challenges in gauging the hierarchy in Iran, where they could not be certain who was in charge. This led to the US seeking out an Iraqi leader to ensure they were talking to the right people.

Barzani's involvement was seen as a pragmatic solution by US officials, as he was respected across both the US and Iran. His call with the IRGC commander, Gen. Ahmad Vahidi, saw the Iranian official confirm his support for negotiations. However, despite these initial steps, the Iranians showed hesitation in arranging secret talks in Erbil, citing security concerns about potential Israeli intelligence threats.

The story highlights the complex and uncertain nature of negotiating with Iran, where the hierarchy and the individuals truly in control are often difficult to identify.