Delovan Barwari, PhD

Consultant @Kurdistan | Fmr Director @KRG_USA & Host, Kurdistan in America | Scholar of Kurdish affairs & US foreign policy | Non-state actors

[Amberin Zaman @amberinzaman]

“The plan to overthrow the Iranian regime with Kurdish cooperation was comprehensive and detailed. We invested enormous resources and energy into it. It was not a gimmick, and it was not superficial. The Americans know this very well because they were thoroughly briefed.”

[Delovan Barwari, PhD @DelovanBarwari]

Good analysis—and concerning if accurate

[Lindsey Graham @LindseyGrahamSC]

If a deal is struck to end the Iranian conflict because it is believed that the Strait of Hormuz cannot be protected from Iranian terrorism and Iran still possesses the capability to destroy major Gulf oil infrastructure, then Iran will be perceived as being a dominate force requiring a diplomatic solution.

This combination of Iran being perceived as having the ability to terrorize the Strait in perpetuity and the ability the inflict massive damage to Gulf oil infrastructure is a major shift of the balance of power in the region and over time will be a nightmare for Israel.

Also, it makes one wonder why the war started to begin with if these perceptions are accurate. I personally am a skeptic of the idea that Iran cannot be denied the ability to terrorize the Strait and the region cannot protect itself against Iranian military capability.

It is important we get this right.

[Delovan Barwari, PhD @DelovanBarwari]

Negotiations are going about as smoothly as you’d expect… because politics has a way of escalating.

[Axios @axios]

NEW: Trump convened a meeting with his senior national security team on the war with Iran this morning.

He is seriously considering launching new strikes against Iran barring a last-minute breakthrough in negotiations, sources say. https://t.co/dN7UuWUcGe

[The New Region @thenewregion]

Daniel Zimmerman, a senior US defense official, voiced Washington’s appreciation for Kurdish Peshmerga forces, particularly against terrorism and during the latest Iran war, stressing that the impunity of Iraqi Shiite militias “has only showcased how helpful" the Peshmerga are

[Max Abrahms @MaxAbrahms]

Had America treated the Kurds better in Syria they would have been better allies in Iran.

[Delovan Barwari, PhD @DelovanBarwari]

Well done @DiyarKurda for raising a timely and important question.

If @POTUS is unable to confirm, perhaps @StateDept should clarify. With decades of security partnership, the #Kurds have consistently demonstrated their reliability as one of America’s most trusted allies.

[Diyar Kurda @diyarkurda]

I asked President Donald Trump: Yesterday you said you gave the Kurds weapons and they kept them for themselves. A U.S. military official says (tells me) the Kurds have not received any weapons, and all Kurdish parties deny receiving them?”

Trump responded: “The officials are wrong”

[Delovan Barwari, PhD @DelovanBarwari]

Claim of handing US weapons to #Kurds denied by ALL Kurdish parties, including KRG. Journalists asked @POTUS & @SecRubio to name recipients—no answer. Kurds span 4 countries, 100+ parties—specify which group! 30 yrs of security partnership proves their trustworthiness as top ally

[Rapid Response 47 @RapidResponse47]

.@POTUS: The Iranian people "want to go out on the streets. They have no weapons. They have no guns. We thought the Kurds were going to give [them] weapons, but the Kurds disappointed us. The Kurds take, take, take... I’m very disappointed in the Kurds."

[Delovan Barwari, PhD @DelovanBarwari]

@marklevinshow Mr. Levin, claims the US gave weapons to the Kurds have been denied by all Kurdish parties, including the KRG. Journalists asked Trump & Rubio for clarification—no answer. This is likely false or a misunderstanding. Kurds remain the most reliable US ally & key to countering Iran.

[Myles Caggins III @MylesCaggins]

Retired UK Colonel Hamish de Bretton-Gordon: “Energy security is another critical factor. Kurdistan’s oil pipeline to Turkey is a strategic asset, particularly in a scenario where the Strait of Hormuz becomes compromised. At a time when global energy routes are increasingly vulnerable, this northern corridor offers an alternative that is both practical and politically significant.”

[Hiba A Abdulwahhab/ هبة الفدعم @HAbdulwahhab]

My latest for the @GulfIntlForum is out today.

@Iraq has all the formal attributes of a state, but not the one that matters most; a monopoly on the use of force within its own territory. Since the outbreak of the Iran–U.S.–Israel war, that gap has become impossible to ignore.

The PMF draws its salary from #Baghdad and takes its orders from Tehran. Over 500 attacks have been launched from or inside Iraq since late February, by forces the prime minister explicitly told to stand down.

Sovereignty Without Control: Iraq’s Dual Power Crisis in a Regional War.

https://t.co/P7L15euGrk

[Victoria J. Taylor @VictoriaT_]

Some thoughts from @SafwanAmin and me on the nomination of Ali al-Zaidi. As Iraq's new PM, he faces enormous challenges: rogue militias, severe economic strain, and navigating a foreign policy with both the United States and Iran that is becoming increasingly difficult to balance. More than that, Zaidi will contend with a growing crisis of legitimacy in the very political system that brought him to power.

https://t.co/KHyaV3ke9V

[Delovan Barwari, PhD @DelovanBarwari]

EU Foreign Policy Chief Kallas warns: “Iran’s missile program, support for armed groups, and ‘hybrid activities’ & cyberattacks on Europe”… If unaddressed, we’ll face a far more dangerous Iran.

[Kurdistan 24 English @K24English]

EU Foreign Policy Chief Urges Broader Negotiations on Missiles and Hybrid Threats in Iran Talks.

Read More: https://t.co/mBGEpDp3OC

[Yerevan Saeed @YerevanSaeed]

American Ambassadors are supposed to defend U.S. policy in their host countries, not defend their hosts against U.S. policy. Tom Barrack could use a reminder. https://t.co/RhhBwtkSyg via @WSJopinion

[Delovan Barwari, PhD @DelovanBarwari]

Iran-backed PMF militias carried out 700+ attacks on U.S. & KRG interests in Kurdistan, yet Sudani failed to even name those responsible. Operating with impunity, PMF militias have entrenched deep power across Iraq’s government, security, and economy. A MUST‑read

[The New Region @thenewregion]

OPINION: As Iraq's Coordination Framework seemingly edges away from Maliki and toward PM Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani for another term, the US must consider major issues during his premiership before supporting his continued tenure.

✍️: @MohammedASalih
https://t.co/0njxmPpfuK

[FDD @FDD]

US Treasury designates 7 Iran-backed Iraqi militia commanders as terrorists

@BridgetKToomey in FDD's @LongWarJournal: https://t.co/Eeq0pQzmnN

[Entifadh Qanbar 🇮🇶🇺🇸 انتفاض قنبر @eqanbar]

PRIME MINISTER SUDANI EIGHT BIG LIES !

NEWSWEEK ARTICLE

1. “Iraq is stable” → FALSE. Iraq remains an unstable with security controlled by Iran proxy militias under the Popular Mobilization Forces.

2. “The state controls all armed forces” → FALSE. The PMF operate as a state inside a state receiving orders from the IRGC, Sudani have ZERO control over the PMF.

3. “Balanced U.S.–Iran policy” → FALSE. Iran’s grip on Iraq’s political and security system is deep and entrenched.

4. “Reliable U.S. partner” → ABSURD. Iran-backed militias inside Iraq have repeatedly targeted U.S. forces and interests and Sudani proven powerless.

5. “Open for U.S. investment” → BIG LIE. Corruption, militia targeting, continue to drive investors away such as targeting US oil companies in Kurdistan and halting production.

6. “Functioning democracy” → FICTION. Low turnout less than 18%, intimidation, judicial corruption targeting dissidents and weak institutions undermine any real legitimacy.

7. “Regional stabilizer” → BIG LIE. Iraqi militia targeted every country in the region including Iraqi institution and Kurdistan, and Iraq remains a battlefield for Iranian aggressions, not a stabilizing force.

8. “Full sovereignty restored” → BIG LIE. The Iraqi state is controlled by Tehran, heavily armed PMF controls the state on behalf of Iran.

https://t.co/CcuH8NT4sI

[Brett McGurk @brett_mcgurk]

Significant: “April 8 ambush of U.S. diplomats in Baghdad.” That’s an attack by Iran—these militias operate under its direction—targeting U.S. diplomats on the first day of an alleged ceasefire with the U.S.

[Masrour Barzani @masrourbarzani]

I am deeply saddened by the news of a drone attack on the residence of a Peshmerga family in Erbil, which resulted in the martyrdom of him and his wife. I condemn this heinous crime in the strongest terms and denounce its perpetrators.

The targeting of civilians and civilian homes is a war crime. We will convey the voice of the victims to the international community to help end the oppression and the unjustified attacks against the people of the Kurdistan Region.

[Masrour Barzani @masrourbarzani]

I condemn and denounce in the strongest terms the cowardly drone attack on the residence of @IKRPresident Nechirvan Barzani in Duhok. Once again, we call on the federal government to act on its responsibility, bring these outlaw criminals to justice, and curb the continued terrorist attacks carried out by these groups.

I also call on the international community and our friends to support the Kurdistan Region in protecting its citizens and safeguarding the interests of the Kurdistan Region.

We reserve every right to confront these terrorists, and we will take whatever steps are necessary to protect the Kurdistan Region.

[Masrour Barzani @masrourbarzani]

هێرشی ترسنۆکانەی درۆنی بۆ سەر ماڵی بەڕێز نێچیرڤان بارزانی سەرۆکی هەرێمی کوردستان لە شاری دهۆک، بە توندترین شێوە سەرکۆنە و شەرمەزار دەکەین و جارێکی دیکە داوا لە حکومەتی فیدراڵ دەکەین لە ئاستی بەرپرسیاریەتیدا بن و ئەم تاوانبارە لە یاسا دەرچووانە، ڕووبەڕووی یاسا بکەنەوە و سنوورێک بۆ بەردەوامیی هێرشە تیرۆریستییەکانی ئەم گرووپانە دابنێن. داوا لە کومەڵگەی نێودەوڵەتی و دۆستەکانمان دەکەین یارمەتی هەرێمی کوردستان بدەن بۆ پاراستنی هاووڵاتییان و بەرژەوەندییەکانی هەرێمی کوردستان.

هەموو مافێکمان بۆ ڕووبەڕووبوونەوەی ئەم تیرۆریستانە هەیە و هەر هەنگاوێک پێویست بێت بۆ پاراستنی هەرێمی کوردستان دەگرینە بەر.