The U.S. reached out directly to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps to ensure it was negotiating with the right people, Axios reported. Trump administration negotiators grew frustrated during talks with Iran, questioning whether the officials across the table were speaking for the IRGC. The administration instead turned to Nechirvan Barzani, president of Iraq’s Kurdistan region, who was trusted by both the U.S. and the IRGC, to broker a deal with the key decision-makers, three people told Axios.
As the White House continues trying to negotiate an end to the war, it must ensure it is dealing with the right people and working through mediators trusted by both the U.S. and the IRGC. The war has decimated Iran’s leadership while strengthening the IRGC’s grip on power. When the White House first attempted to negotiate a deal in May, officials realized Iran’s negotiators were not authorized to reach an agreement and were being overruled by the IRGC. Former Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard wanted Barzani, who has deep ties to Iran, to determine whether IRGC Commander Ahmad Vahidi supported what Iran’s negotiators were offering or had other demands, sources told Axios.
