Kurdish Policy Analysis

  The path to influencing Iran may lie not in choosing the right partners—but in redefining what a partner actually is. Erbil, Iraq, March 27, 2026 Kurdish Policy Analysis Efforts by Western policymakers to identify allies inside Iran may be based on flawed assumptions, according to a recent analysis by the Lawfare , which argues that influence in the country operates in less visible and more complex ways than commonly understood. The report challenges the long-standing focus on exiled opposition groups and overtly pro-Western actors, suggesting these figures often lack credibility inside Iran and have limited ability to shape internal outcomes. Instead, it points to domestically rooted individuals and networks—many operating within state institutions or broader society—as more consequential, even if they are not publicly aligned with foreign governments. “Visible alignment with external powers can undermine local legitimacy,” the analysis indicates , noting that such percepti...

  Iraqi soldiers inspect the site of a destroyed health care center in the Habbaniyah military base, which was targeted by an airstrike, Habbaniyah, Iraq, March 26, 2026. (AFP Photo)      T he Ministry of National Defense announced on Thursday that Turkish troops stationed in Baghdad as part of the   NATO   Iraq mission have left the country under the current circumstances. Daily Sabah has reported that NATO ordered its staff in Iraq to evacuate last Friday, while Iraq said that it was a temporary precautionary measure to ensure the safety of the personnel. Iraq, like Türkiye, stands to be affected by the ongoing U.S.-Israel-Iran war. NATO elements in Türkiye have intercepted several missiles reportedly fired by Iran, but the spillover of the conflict was worse for Iraq. Since the outbreak of war on Feb. 28, after U.S.-Israeli strikes against Iran, strikes have targeted both U.S. interests and pro-Iranian groups in Iraq. Baghdad has hardened its stance. On...

  Here’s what happened today Here are some of the day’s top developments: Trump said he would pause his threat to attack Iran’s nuclear facilities until April 6, claiming Tehran requested the move. IAEA chief Rafael Grossi warned attacks near Iran’s Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant could cause a “major radiological accident”. Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam called on the UN to act on Israeli ministers threatening “ to occupy  the area south of the Litani River”. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says Israel is expanding what he calls a “buffer zone” in southern Lebanon. The death toll from Israeli attacks on Lebanon grew to 1,116, while US-Israeli attacks have now killed more than 1,900 people in Iran. Iran continued attacks on its Gulf neighbours, as well as Israel, where one person was reported killed. Fox News poll suggests majority disapproval for war on Iran A poll by the right-leaning network, seen as largely friendly to US President Trump, suggested that 64 perce...

  Iran’s Strategy in Iraq Evolves as Tehran Seeks Influence Amid Regional Turmoil By Pshtiwan Faraj , Kurdish Policy Analysis Erbil/Iraq — Iran’s efforts to expand its strategic footprint in Iraq are emerging as a pivotal element in Tehran’s broader approach to regional influence, diplomats and analysts say, a stance that could reshape power dynamics across the Middle East. Since the 2003 U.S. invasion of Iraq and the toppling of Saddam Hussein, Iran has incrementally deepened its political, military and economic ties in the neighbouring Arab state, exploiting shared Shiite connections and Baghdad’s internal divisions to build influence that extends far beyond Iraq’s borders. Iran’s influence has been rooted in a multifaceted strategy that combines political support for allied Shiite parties in Baghdad, financial investments, and backing for paramilitary formations such as the Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF). These networks have helped Tehran to embed itself within Iraq’s sec...

  U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT — U.S. SECRETARY RUBIO SPEAKS WITH KURDISTAN PM ON SECURITY, SUPPORT By Kurdish Policy Analysis ERBIL,Iraq March 27  – U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke by phone on Thursday with Masrour Barzani , the prime minister of the semi‑autonomous Kurdistan Region in northern Iraq, in a call that underscored Washington’s support for Erbil amid escalating regional tensions, U.S. and Kurdish statements said. Rubio “expressed condolences” for the recent deaths of Peshmerga fighters killed in a ballistic missile strike earlier this week, according to a State Department readout attributed to Principal Deputy Spokesperson Tommy Pigott. He also reiterated U.S. support for the Kurdistan Region and its security forces at a time of heightened clashes involving Iranian‑linked groups. In the call, the U.S. top diplomat “condemned” ongoing attacks by Iran and Iran‑aligned armed militias against U.S. citizens and energy infrastructure in Iraq, the department sa...

     Maximum Pressure, Minimum Strategy: The Structural Failure of U.S. Iran Policy Why Something isn’t adding up in Washington’s Iran strategy — and the consequences could hit the global economy harder than anyone expects.  Kurdish Policy Analysis Erbil, Iraq, 27 March — The United States’ campaign of “maximum pressure”  and "Minimum Strategy" on Iran is increasingly marked by strategic contradictions that risk undermining its own objectives, analysts say, as Washington seeks to balance military escalation with efforts to stabilize global energy markets. U.S. actions have targeted Iran’s economic lifelines, including strikes and enforcement measures aimed at curbing oil revenues. At the same time, policymakers have shown flexibility in sanctions enforcement to contain sharp increases in global oil prices — a dual-track approach critics argue is inherently self-defeating. “The policy is trying to achieve mutually incompatible goals,” one regional analyst said ....

  The closure of the Strait Of Hormuz has forced Iraq to rethink its oil export strategy — pivoting north and reviving old pipelines as global energy markets reel.  Can Baghdad avoid an economic catastrophe?  The story:  Iraqi authorities are scrambling to contain a   looming   financial crisis as the Israeli-US war on Iran shows few signs of letting up. The effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz, Iraq’s principal   maritime   export route, has forced a radical cut in crude production. While Baghdad is   exploring   several alternate overland routes, none appear   immediately   viable or hold enough capacity to stave off a full-blown economic meltdown. The coverage:  Emirati outlet The National has  described  Iraq’s mounting challenges as a “polycrisis shock” combining economic, fiscal, political and  security  pressures. One Iraqi economic advisor has  estimated  that roughly 94% of pre-...

     Sun Tzu in the 21st Century: Iran’s Strategy Is Reshaping Global Power as  Iran is trying to make the war too expensive to sustain, not win it outright.   Erbil, Iraq, March 26, Kurdish Policy Analysis While the world’s leaders are scrambling around like someone just pulled the fire alarm at a nursing home, Iran is executing. Methodically. Patiently. Like they’ve read every page of Sun Tzu and used the spare copy to wipe their arse with Trump’s Truth Social post. Iran is waging asymmetric economic warfare, using low-cost drones against expensive defense systems to impose disproportionate costs. Despite U.S. claims of degrading Iran’s capabilities, attacks continue, while Washington faces rising financial burdens, a $200 billion funding request, and no clear end strategy. The core argument: Iran does not need military victory—it aims to make the war economically and politically unsustainable for its adversaries. The current conflict reflects real-time “Ar...

US & Israel Plan Massive Ground Operation Into Iran — The World Has NO IDEA What’s Coming   Erbil /Iraq, 26 March  – The United States and Israel are reportedly preparing to position nearly 12,000 elite troops for a possible ground operation in Iran, according to a widely circulated social media post that has sent shockwaves through diplomatic and security circles. The purported deployment, which War (@warsurv) said late Thursday was being financed by Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Kuwait , has not been confirmed by U.S. or Israeli officials. Reuters could not independently verify the figures or strategic plans referenced in the post. The circulating account alleges that U.S. and Israeli forces are readying what many analysts describe as an extremely high‑risk mission against one of the region’s most formidable militaries, warning of “overwhelming challenges and slim chances of success.” The post said Iran, with a large active army and paramilitar...

     Iran rejects America’s peace plan, launches attacks on Israel and Gulf states, while U.S. troops flood the region and oil prices skyrocket. The Middle East teeters on the brink. Ervil, March 26, Kurdish Policy Analysis Iran on Wednesday flatly dismissed a U.S.-backed plan to pause the war in the Middle East, launching new strikes on Israel and Gulf Arab states, including a fuel tank at Kuwait International Airport that sparked a major fire. The moves came as Israel conducted airstrikes on Tehran and the United States deployed paratroopers and thousands of Marines to the region. Iran’s Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, told state TV that Tehran has “not engaged in talks to end the war, and we do not plan on any negotiations.” Iranian state media cited a five-point Iranian proposal demanding reparations, halts on attacks, and continued control over the strategic Strait of Hormuz . The U.S. 15-point ceasefire proposal , transmitted via Pakistan, included sanctions relie...