From the shadows to supreme power: why Iran chose Ahmad Vahidi to lead its confrontation with the United States

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By Dr. Pshtiwan Faraj | Kurdish Policy Analysis Who Is Ahmad Vahidi? The Secretive IRGC Commander now shaping Iran's confrontation with the United States From the founding of the Quds Force to commanding the Revolutionary Guards, Ahmad Vahidi's rise signals a new era in Iran's military-led decision-making. As Tehran braces for a prolonged confrontation with Washington, one of Iran's most secretive and hardline military figures has emerged at the center of power—signaling a dramatic shift in how the Islamic Republic intends to wage its geopolitical struggle. Who is Ahmad Vahidi? Explore the rise of Iran's IRGC commander and how his growing influence could reshape Tehran's strategy toward the United States and the Middle East. For decades, Ahmad Vahidi remained largely behind the scenes, shaping Iran's military doctrine and regional strategy away from the public spotlight. Today, however, he stands at the heart of Iran's national security apparatus, overs...
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The Silence of East Kurdistan Forces During the 39-Day War: Pressure, Missed Opportunity, and Internal Constraints


 Several Kurdish social media reports and speculations shed light on why East Kurdistan’s armed and political forces remained largely inactive during the 39-day Iran–U.S. escalation, despite reported external expectations and internal divisions.

Dr. Pshtiwan Faraj, Sulaimani, Iraq, April 2026  —During the intense 39-day military confrontation between the United States and the Islamic Republic of Iran, East Kurdistan’s political and military factions remained notably silent. While regional powers closely monitored the escalation, Kurdish forces in eastern Kurdistan did not open any active front against Tehran—despite claims of external pressure and internal debate.

Alleged External Pressure and Israeli Expectations

According to accounts cited in social media, Israel reportedly urged Kurdish factions in East Kurdistan to open a domestic front against Iran during the peak of the conflict.

However, Kurdish parties did not respond militarily, a stance that allegedly triggered frustration in Tel Aviv. The report claims that Israeli intelligence even expressed dissatisfaction, accusing Kurdish groups of missing a “historic opportunity” and questioning their demands for a no-fly zone over Iran.

Israeli messaging, as described in the report, suggested skepticism toward Kurdish requests, arguing that Iran’s air capabilities did not justify such demands.

Internal Kurdish Power Constraints

Beyond external expectations, the report highlights deep internal constraints across Kurdish political-military networks:

  • The Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) reportedly blocked its eastern affiliate, PJAK, from engaging in military action.
  • The Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) is said to have restricted movements linked to Hussein Yazdanpana’s forces.
  • Competing strategies between factions such as Komala and other groups further fragmented decision-making.

These overlapping restrictions created a situation where coordination between East Kurdistan factions effectively collapsed at a critical moment.

Turkey’s Reported Role

The accounts on social media also point to Turkey’s indirect influence on the conflict dynamics. Rather than direct military involvement, Ankara is said to have exerted political pressure through channels connected to Kurdish networks, reinforcing a message that PJAK should remain outside the conflict “under any circumstances.”

This approach, if accurate, would reflect Turkey’s long-standing strategy of containing Kurdish armed activity across multiple regions.

Fragmentation Over Strategy

While some factions reportedly saw the war as an opportunity to increase leverage against Tehran, others prioritized caution or were constrained by external alliances. The result was strategic paralysis rather than coordinated action.

The accounts published on several kurdish social media suggests that this division between “opportunity” and “containment” camps prevented any unified Kurdish response.

Strategic Implications

The 39-day conflict highlights a recurring structural weakness in East Kurdistan’s political-military landscape: fragmentation and dependence on external Kurdish and regional power centers.

Rather than acting as a unified force, East Kurdistan factions remain shaped by competing influences from northern and southern Kurdish political structures as well as regional states.

Outlook

If these internal divisions persist, reports warns that East Kurdistan’s political forces risk further erosion of influence in regional conflicts where rapid, unified decision-making is essential.

In an increasingly volatile Middle East, absence from key moments may prove as consequential as participation.

#Kurdistan #Iran #Israel #Turkey #PKK #MiddleEast #Geopolitics #Kurds

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