US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth declined to confirm media reports about plans to arm Kurdish opposition forces for participation in a ground military operation against Iran.

"I will only say that our goals are in no way tied to supporting or supplying any particular groups. We know what other parties are doing, but our priorities lie elsewhere," Hegseth said during a Pentagon press briefing when asked to confirm the reports.

Earlier on Wednesday, CNN reported, citing an unnamed official, that Iranian Kurdish opposition forces could potentially participate in a ground operation in western Iran within the coming days. The network also claimed that the CIA is allegedly working to arm Kurdish forces with the goal of igniting a popular uprising in Iran.