The head of Türkiye’s National Intelligence Organization (MİT), İbrahim Kalın, held high-level security discussions in Iran over the weekend, focusing on counterterrorism efforts and regional stability, according to Anadolu Agency (AA).
Kalın met with Iran’s Intelligence Minister Esmail Khatib and Ali Akbar Ahmadian, the Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council. The discussions covered terrorist threats, including the PKK and Daesh, developments in Syria, the Gaza ceasefire, and the broader Palestinian issue.
Counterterrorism Cooperation and PKK Threat
The PKK, designated as a terrorist organization by Türkiye, the U.S., and the EU, operates across Türkiye, Iran, Iraq, and Syria, posing a security threat to all four nations. Last month, MİT carried out an operation in Iraq, eliminating Islam Dotkanlou, a senior figure from the PKK’s Iranian wing.
Tensions between Türkiye and Iran regarding the PKK’s activities have surfaced in recent years. In a televised interview, Turkish Defense Minister Yaşar Güler criticized Iran’s inaction on the group’s movements along their shared border. “We provide our Iranian friends with exact PKK locations, yet they claim they find nothing. This is not acceptable and deeply concerns us,” Güler stated, emphasizing that Türkiye has presented Iran with UAV surveillance data on the militants.
Türkiye-Iran Relations and Regional Politics
Despite working together on some security matters, Türkiye and Iran have been on opposing sides in Syria’s civil war. While Türkiye supported opposition forces against Bashar Assad, Iran backed his regime. However, following Assad’s ousting on December 8, Kalın became the first senior Turkish official to visit Syria, signaling a shift in regional diplomacy.
Meanwhile, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan held a phone call with his Iranian counterpart, Abbas Araghchi, on Saturday. Their discussion focused on bilateral relations and the Palestinian crisis. Like Türkiye, Iran remains a strong supporter of Hamas and the Palestinian cause. Last year, Iran launched a large-scale missile attack on Israelamid escalating tensions over Israel’s actions in Gaza.
The Türkiye-Iran security dialogue continues to be a crucial factor in shaping regional stability, particularly in the fight against terrorism, border security, and Middle East geopolitics.
