Iran welcomes PKK dissolution as step toward regional peace

Iran has welcomed the announcement by the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) declaring its disarmament and organizational dissolution, calling the move a significant development for regional security and stability.

Speaking on behalf of Tehran, Foreign Ministry Spokesman Esmail Baghaei Kani praised the PKK’s decision as a constructive step in the direction of peace, Caliber.Az reports, citing Iranian media.

“Iran considers the PKK’s announcement of disarmament and dissolution an important step toward rejecting violence and enhancing security,” Baghaei stated.

The statement reflects Iran’s longstanding opposition to militant activity near its borders and its support for political resolutions to regional conflicts. The PKK, which has waged an armed struggle against Türkiye for decades, has been designated a terrorist organization by Ankara, the United States, and the European Union.

Iran has historically maintained a complex stance toward Kurdish armed groups, balancing its relations with Türkiye against concerns over its own Kurdish population. Tehran has frequently condemned militant activity in border regions while calling for peaceful dialogue.

“We hope the completion of this process will contribute to greater stability and peace in Türkiye and the broader region,” Baghaei concluded, signaling Iran’s hope that the disarmament will mark the beginning of a new chapter in Turkish-Kurdish relations.

ON May 5-7, the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) held its 12th congress, during which the group officially announced its decision to lay down arms and dissolve the organisation. This significant development followed a call by Devlet Bahçeli, leader of the Turkish Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), who urged the PKK to disband and abandon armed activities as part of the broader “Terror-free Türkiye” initiative.

The PKK conflict has been one of the most prolonged and violent internal struggles in modern Turkish history. Established in 1978 by Abdullah Öcalan, the group initially aimed to create an independent Kurdish state in southeastern Türkiye. Over time, its goals evolved to focus on autonomy and expanded political rights for Kurds within the country. However, the organisation’s longstanding reliance on violence and guerrilla tactics has led to decades of bloodshed and instability.

By Vafa Guliyeva