Iran is a Persian majority nation. But it is also a multi-ethnic country comprised of sizeable Azeri and Kurdish populations, along with Lurs, Arabs, Baluchis and Turkmen in borderlands that sit astride trade routes, smuggling corridors and energy infrastructure. The regime has long exploited fears of Iran breaking apart to mobilise loyalty, suppress dissent and resist external meddling. It will try again, but this time the centre’s ability to hold its peripheries may be significantly weakened. Reports that the CIA is aiding Kurdish armed groups to drum up resistance against the Iranian regime have sharpened Tehran’s fears. Kurdish fighters lack the numbers to overthrow the regime, but backing them could be a pretext for creating an enclave that serves as a US and Israeli staging ground against Tehran.