Media: Türkiye considers contingency plans along Iran border

Türkiye is considering contingency measures along its border with Iran amid concerns over a possible US military attack on its neighbour, a senior Turkish official said on January 29.

“If the United States attacks Iran and the regime falls, Türkiye is planning additional measures to reinforce border security,” said the official, who requested anonymity, Al Arabiya quotes.

Washington has not ruled out a new military intervention against Tehran following its harsh response to protests earlier this month, which rights groups say has left thousands dead.

A US naval force led by an aircraft carrier has taken up position in Middle Eastern waters, US Central Command said on January 26, without disclosing its exact location.

NATO member Türkiye, which shares a 530-kilometer border with Iran, has frequently voiced opposition to military operations targeting the Islamic Republic.

Part of the shared frontier is protected by a 380-kilometer wall, but “it has proven insufficient,” the official said.

Among the measures under consideration are plans “to increase the deployment of technological border security systems and boost troop numbers,” the official said.

By Sabina Mammadli