Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said on Monday that a joint military operation with Iran against the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) in the Kandil Mountains along the Iraq-Iran border is on government’s agenda.
Speaking at İstanbul Atatürk Airport on Monday before his departure for an official visit to Jordan, Erdoğan said, “Taking joint action with Iran is always on the agenda.”
“The two military chiefs discussed the work that can be carried out and its diplomatic dimension,” he added.
Underlining that the PKK has always harmed both Iran and Turkey, Erdoğan said the PKK has a foothold in Iran, too, and that it will be finished if the two countries cooperate.
Erdoğan’s remarks came days after Iranian Chief of General Staff Maj. Gen. Mohamed Bagheri paid a three-day visit to Ankara last week, meeting with his Turkish counterpart, Gen. Hulusi Akar, Erdoğan and other officials.
During Bagheri’s meetings, Turkey and Iran agreed to increase cooperation on border security regarding the fight against the outlawed PKK.