Bafel Talabani denies stealing weapons cited by Trump

Talabani Pushes Back on Trump Weapons Theft Claim, Calls Alleged Act Shameful

SULAIMANI, Iraqi Kurdistan,— Bafel Jalal Talabani, president of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), has flatly denied that his group stole weapons that U.S. President Donald Trump said were meant for Iranian protesters but never reached them.

Talabani made the denial in an interview on Piers Morgan Uncensored, responding directly to Trump’s remarks earlier in April.

Trump told reporters he was “very upset with a certain group of people” over the missing weapons and warned they would “pay a big price.”

When Morgan asked Talabani point-blank whether he stole the weapons, the PUK president said no. “I can prove to you that no weapons were stolen in Sulaimani,” he told Morgan. “I think you have the right friends inside the U.S. administration to confirm this. I cannot speak for the other side.”

Talabani noted that Iraqi Kurdistan is divided into two zones and that his authority covers only one of them. “We are part of a state, but we are not a state. We have a government that is not really a government,” he said.

On Trump’s overall statements, Talabani said he was certain the remarks were not made without reason. He called the alleged act of stealing from allies “completely shameful,” adding that using Kurds as a shield in military operations was one thing, but stealing from partners was “something entirely different.”

When Morgan asked if the issue would have consequences, Talabani smiled and said, “I don’t like to steal from Trump, do you?” Morgan said no. Talabani then said, “I think that will have consequences.”

Trump also said at a press conference that he would prefer Iranian Kurds to stay out of any conflict with Iran. “I’d rather have Iranian Kurds stay away of Iran war because I think they bring with them some problems and some difficulties and they bring death,” Trump said.

Beyond the weapons dispute, Talabani questioned the use of military force against Iran. “You cannot bomb people into loving you,” he said, calling such tactics counterproductive.

He said strikes on civilian infrastructure, including schools, universities, and hospitals, were pushing ordinary Iranians closer to the government rather than away from it. “We have seen people who were demonstrating against the regime now saying we are demonstrating for our country,” he said.

He expressed cautious hope for ongoing negotiations between U.S. and Iran, saying he was optimistic that Pakistan was sending a team to Tehran soon to continue talks. He also noted that earlier rounds of diplomacy had produced progress on smaller issues.

On ceasefire timelines, Talabani said deadlines were flexible and easy to extend. “This is one of those conflicts that violence will not resolve,” he said.

(With files from PUK media | Agencies)