Nechirvan Barzani, president of Iraq’s Kurdistan Regional Government, served as a covert intermediary between the Trump administration and Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). The initiative, launched on May 10, 2026 by Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, enabled a secure phone call between Barzani and General Ahmad Vahidi on May 14. Vahidi confirmed that Iran’s military leadership supported the civilian negotiating team’s positions and favored a peaceful resolution over military escalation. This secret communication contributed to a broader US-Iran agreement reached in June 2026. The episode highlights Vahidi’s significance within Iran’s power structure, despite being on Interpol’s red notice list in connection with the 1994 AMIA bombing in Buenos Aires.
Source: Read the original article
