Terrorist Increases Attacks in Iran
On Tuesday, 20 July, 15 members of the Pejak organization, which claims to be an Iranian extension of PKK-KONGRA-GEL, attacked security forces patrolling in the West Azerbaijan region.
Another faction of the organization forcibly seized food and money in the Village of Gilas, in the western Kurdistan region. Nearly 10 members of the organization were reportedly arrested last week in the northwest. Clashes between members of Pejak and Iranian security forces have claimed 12 people, two of whom were on security patrol toward the end of last month. Iran has not yet listed the PKK-KONGRA-GEL as a terror organization. Erdogan is expected to handle the issue during his two-day visit to Tehran.
In a statement regarding Erdogan’s visit yesterday, a Spokesman for the Iran Foreign Ministry, Hamid Reza Asefi, answered a question about the PKK-KONGRA-GEL’s status: "This is a security issue. How Iran will act about this issue will be determined by the decision to be taken by the joint security institutions of the two countries."
Iran discussed PKK operations in Iran during a Joint Security Committee meeting between Turkey and Iran held in Ankara recently. Iranian officials spoke about clashes between security forces and members of the organization.
Asefi said, in his statement yesterday, that issues involving the two countries — issues such as cooperation, joint investments, political, cultural and security matters — would be reviewed during Edogan’s visit. In addition, the natural gas agreement between the countries and Turkish TAV (Tepe-Akfen-Vie), a construction consortium currently working on the International Khomeini Airport, will also be on the agenda. Erdogan is expected to arrive in Tehran tomorrow night.
