Kurdish Policy Analysis

       WASHINGTON/Erbil, March 23 —By Pshtiwan Faraj  A 48-hour ultimatum issued by Donald Trump to Iran over access to the Strait of Hormuz has expired, heightening fears of potential military escalation in one of the world’s most critical energy corridors. The ultimatum, delivered over the weekend, demanded that Tehran ensure the reopening and security of maritime traffic through the narrow waterway, through which roughly a fifth of global oil flows. The deadline lapsed on Monday, with no immediate public confirmation of compliance from Iranian authorities. U.S. officials have not formally announced next steps, but analysts say Washington is likely weighing a range of options, including limited military strikes aimed at deterring further disruption without triggering a broader conflict. “The expiration of the deadline places the situation in a highly volatile phase,” said a regional security analyst. “Even a calibrated response could provoke retaliation ...

  Iraq has been cut off from trade via the Strait of Hormuz as the war with Iran has developed over the last two weeks. An oil and trade dispute between Baghdad and the autonomous  Kurdistan Regional  Government in northern Iraq is having ramifications for Baghdad and could also present larger ramifications for the region. Iraq  has been cut off from trade via the Strait of Hormuz as the war with Iran has developed over the last two weeks. One option for the country would be to export oil through the Kurdistan Region, which has a pipeline to Turkey. However, Baghdad has also sought to isolate and control the Kurdistan Region via a trade embargo at the border with Turkey. This is also important because many countries are trying to use pipelines and other means to get around the closure of the Strait of Hormuz . Saudi Arabia has similar challenges. As Baghdad seeks to pressure  Erbil , the dispute continues, which will likely harm the economy in Baghdad and have w...

Mark Hertling, former commander of US troops in Iraq in 2007 shares his personal thoughts on why the Kurds cannot solve the Iran Problem FOR MORE THAN FIFTY YEARS, when American presidents have wanted to  put pressure  on leader in Iraq or Iran, the same idea has consistently popped up: Use the Kurds. Now, as the Trump administration seeks “ unconditional surrender ” from the Iranian regime, the question of the Kurds has come up again. Last week, CNN  reported  that the CIA is arming Kurdish rebels “with the aim of fomenting a popular uprising in Iran.” The logic behind the suggestion is easy to understand. The Kurds are fierce fighters. They are among the more pro-Western and pro-American groups in the region. They were partners and helped stabilize parts of Iraq during the U.S. invasion. They were decisive in helping defeat ISIS when the Iraqi state nearly collapsed in 2014 and in destroying ISIS in Syria. For many Americans, they represent the kind of ally we wish...

How Iran is trying to win the war? Iran is not trying to win the war, it is trying to make it very expensive That's two completely different games. And most people still don’t understand the difference. Iran is not fighting a military war. Iran is fighting an economic war. Their goal is not to hit the military base. or warships. They don't even target Israel or the United States Iran has changed its goal of war. Their target is the price of oil. Iran has made their goal very clear. $200 per barrel of oil.  That's how Iran declares victory - not by shooting down an F-35, but by doubling oil prices and causing unbearable pain, it would be devastating to the global economy, creating a situation where 50 presidents call Trump every day to stop the war. Think about that strategy for a moment. 15,000 martyr drones, which cost several thousand dollars, will hit the billion-dollar oil infrastructure in the region. Iran has been preparing for this war for decades  Stop the movement ...