Ankara: Trkiye's Interior Minister Mustafa Ciftci met with his Iranian counterpart Eskandar Momeni to discuss counterterrorism, organized crime, border security, and irregular migration. The meeting, held in Ankara, focused on the dismantling of the terrorist organization PKK/KCK's affiliates under different names and in different regions as part of the "Terror-Free Trkiye" process.
According to Anadolu Agency, the Turkish Interior Ministry emphasized coordination and solidarity between Trkiye and Iran in combating terrorism and transnational crime. Ciftci highlighted the importance of dismantling the PKK in Syria and Iraq for regional peace and addressed potential security risks linked to the terror group PJAK. He warned that members opposing the dissolution process could become more active in Iran.
Ciftci also detailed Trkiye's intensified efforts against organized crime, stating that 1,592 operations were conducted against 562 organized crime groups this year. He noted that cooperation between Trkiye and Iran is crucial in combating drug trafficking and transnational crime, given their geographic locations along transit routes used by criminal networks.
Extradition procedures and deportation processes were also on the agenda, with Ciftci underscoring the need for effective collaboration between the countries' Interpol units. He stated that Trkiye is committed to addressing Iran's concerns and expediting legal procedures.
The discussion extended to irregular migration, where Ciftci described Trkiye's comprehensive migration policy and called for strengthened border measures and cooperation against human trafficking networks.
Momeni expressed gratitude for Trkiye's support in the war imposed on Iran and congratulated Trkiye on reaching a political solution with the PKK. He emphasized the need for disarmament of PKK, PJAK, and their branches for lasting peace and security in the region. Momeni also urged increased cooperation on extradition, particularly in drug-related cases, and called for expanded collaboration through Interpol to combat smuggling and terrorism.