Iran’s behavior hinders counterterrorism efforts Turkish defence minister says

Türkiye voiced discontent with Iran’s treatment of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), designated as a terrorist group by Ankara. Turkish Defence Minister Yasar Guler, in a televised interview expressed frustration, rebuking Iran’s stance as unfriendly.

According to Guler, Türkiye had informed Iranian counterparts of PKK movements and surveillance efforts, but Iranians denied finding anyone, which the defence minister found concerning, Asharg Al-Awsat reports.

Türkiye has vowed to keep up its attacks on the party in northern Iraq, aiming to destroy PKK hideouts. Guler stated Türkiye has changed its strategy, focusing on targeting and destroying terrorists in their hideouts.

Guler highlighted the Kurdistan Workers' Party's long-standing presence in northern Iraq, where it carries out terrorist activities spanning across Iraq, Syria, and Iran.

Turkish forces have been stationed in northern Iraq for about six years, leading to the evacuation of many PKK former strongholds. However, Guler mentioned that members of the party still move freely in Sulaymaniyah in the Kurdistan Region.

Regarding Turkish military operations in northern Iraq under Operation “Claw-Lock,” the Turkish Defence Minister welcomed the Iraqi officials’ shift in attitude towards the PKK.

Guler accused the PKK of staging actions that have consequently displaced 800 villages in Iraq, leaving civilians in distress, and highlighted that Iraq now considers the party a banned organization.

In related news, a columnist from the Turkish government-aligned “Hurriyet” newspaper discussed Iranian-American efforts to disrupt the growing ties between Ankara and Baghdad.

The columnist mentioned that there’s significant activity on the borders, and soon there might be a major operation in Iraq against the PKK.

However, Iraq’s decision-making power is limited, with heavy influence from the US and Iran, the columnist argued, accusing Tehran and Washington of taking steps to undermine the Turkish-Iraqi relationship.