atatwolf
BANNED
- Joined
- Jul 15, 2012
- Messages
- 6,965
- Reaction score
- -19
- Country
- Location
In a sign of a further rift with its mullah regime neighbor, Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Bülent Arınç slammed Iran on Thursday, saying that the Turkish government is disturbed by Iran's stance against Turkey.
Speaking to a group of reporters over an iftar (fast-breaking) dinner, Arınç said that Ankara is uncomfortable with the positions the Iranian government has taken recently towards Turkey on a number of issues, not necessarily tied to the Syrian crisis.
What I mean by disturbing behavior [by the Iranian regime] is not related to Syria, he said, stressing that Turkey will do whatever is required to counter Iranian threats.
The Turkish minister implied that a recent surge in terror attacks in Turkey's Southeast has the backing of Iran. We have received information that Kurdistan Workers' Party [PKK] terrorists infiltrated from the Iranian side of the border and that they were stationed in the Şehidan camp [in Iran] and crossed into Turkey from the region of Harkuk in northern Iraq, he said.
Based on government intelligence, Today's Zaman reported on Friday that the PKK had relocated some of its militants from hideouts in northern Iraq's Kandil Mountains to a terror camp on the Turkish-Iranian border, from where it can launch attacks against targets in Turkey. The PKK has found an alternative base for itself in the Şehidan camp, near the district of Şemdinli in Hakkari, in an attempt to protect its members from the constant bombardment by Turkish military forces of PKK hideouts in northern Iraq. The PKK sees the Şehidan camp as a safe area as the Turkish military does not have a mandate to carry out any cross-border operations in that region.
In Şemdinli, the PKK is reported to have attempted to kick-start an uprising in southeastern Turkey similar to the Arab Spring. The Turkish military launched a large-scale operation in the area last week after PKK members blocked the road of a village in the region and began interrogating villagers. Troops from neighboring battalions were dispatched to the region, killing around 100 PKK terrorists. Plans by the PKK to take control of Şemdinli were exposed by terrorists who surrendered to security forces earlier this year.
On Thursday, Arınç also said he stood behind the reporting by the semi-official Anatolia news agency last year regarding the alleged capture and release of the number two man of the PKK terrorist organization by Iranian forces, signaling that Iran and the PKK may have had an agreement. Then Iran had been fighting with the PKK's Iranian offshoot, the Party for a Free Life in Kurdistan [PJAK]. That fighting stopped, he explained, adding that reports and denials coming out of Tehran helped Turkey to figure out what Iran was really after. Turkish dailies reported in October last year that Iranian security forces had captured PKK leader Murat Karayılan in August 2011, but later released him after negotiations with the terrorist organization.
The Şehidan camp in Iran was used by PJAK for many years. The PKK last year withdrew its PJAK militants from Iran after operations carried out by Iranian Revolutionary Guards dealt a severe blow to the terrorist organization. After the PJAK militants were moved to PKK bases in the Kandil Mountains, the PKK took control of the Şehidan camp.
Arınç dismissed Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi's remarks this week explaining those made by Iran's top general Hassan Firouzabadi, who blamed Turkey for the bloodshed in Syria. Salehi came to Ankara and said that only the foreign minister, president and religious leaders can speak on behalf of Iran. This is not true. They can say whatever they want. Similar remarks were made in the past by other Iranian officials against the Kürecik NATO radar base in Turkey. Sometimes deputy ministers have issued similar remarks, Arınç said, adding that Turkey holds the Iranian government responsible for these statements.
In October 2011, the deputy head of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the Iranian armed forces, Brig. Gen. Massoud Jazayeri, said, Turkey should rethink its long-term strategic interests and draw lessons from the bitter historical experiences of other countries. He warned of adverse consequences while urging Turkey to reconsider its decision to host the NATO radar.
Arınç also signaled that Turkey may launch a military operation in Kandil in northern Iraq. We do not need permission to do that. These things are not being spoken of but rather being implemented, he said.
Turkey says it will do
Speaking to a group of reporters over an iftar (fast-breaking) dinner, Arınç said that Ankara is uncomfortable with the positions the Iranian government has taken recently towards Turkey on a number of issues, not necessarily tied to the Syrian crisis.
What I mean by disturbing behavior [by the Iranian regime] is not related to Syria, he said, stressing that Turkey will do whatever is required to counter Iranian threats.
The Turkish minister implied that a recent surge in terror attacks in Turkey's Southeast has the backing of Iran. We have received information that Kurdistan Workers' Party [PKK] terrorists infiltrated from the Iranian side of the border and that they were stationed in the Şehidan camp [in Iran] and crossed into Turkey from the region of Harkuk in northern Iraq, he said.
Based on government intelligence, Today's Zaman reported on Friday that the PKK had relocated some of its militants from hideouts in northern Iraq's Kandil Mountains to a terror camp on the Turkish-Iranian border, from where it can launch attacks against targets in Turkey. The PKK has found an alternative base for itself in the Şehidan camp, near the district of Şemdinli in Hakkari, in an attempt to protect its members from the constant bombardment by Turkish military forces of PKK hideouts in northern Iraq. The PKK sees the Şehidan camp as a safe area as the Turkish military does not have a mandate to carry out any cross-border operations in that region.
In Şemdinli, the PKK is reported to have attempted to kick-start an uprising in southeastern Turkey similar to the Arab Spring. The Turkish military launched a large-scale operation in the area last week after PKK members blocked the road of a village in the region and began interrogating villagers. Troops from neighboring battalions were dispatched to the region, killing around 100 PKK terrorists. Plans by the PKK to take control of Şemdinli were exposed by terrorists who surrendered to security forces earlier this year.
On Thursday, Arınç also said he stood behind the reporting by the semi-official Anatolia news agency last year regarding the alleged capture and release of the number two man of the PKK terrorist organization by Iranian forces, signaling that Iran and the PKK may have had an agreement. Then Iran had been fighting with the PKK's Iranian offshoot, the Party for a Free Life in Kurdistan [PJAK]. That fighting stopped, he explained, adding that reports and denials coming out of Tehran helped Turkey to figure out what Iran was really after. Turkish dailies reported in October last year that Iranian security forces had captured PKK leader Murat Karayılan in August 2011, but later released him after negotiations with the terrorist organization.
The Şehidan camp in Iran was used by PJAK for many years. The PKK last year withdrew its PJAK militants from Iran after operations carried out by Iranian Revolutionary Guards dealt a severe blow to the terrorist organization. After the PJAK militants were moved to PKK bases in the Kandil Mountains, the PKK took control of the Şehidan camp.
Arınç dismissed Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi's remarks this week explaining those made by Iran's top general Hassan Firouzabadi, who blamed Turkey for the bloodshed in Syria. Salehi came to Ankara and said that only the foreign minister, president and religious leaders can speak on behalf of Iran. This is not true. They can say whatever they want. Similar remarks were made in the past by other Iranian officials against the Kürecik NATO radar base in Turkey. Sometimes deputy ministers have issued similar remarks, Arınç said, adding that Turkey holds the Iranian government responsible for these statements.
In October 2011, the deputy head of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the Iranian armed forces, Brig. Gen. Massoud Jazayeri, said, Turkey should rethink its long-term strategic interests and draw lessons from the bitter historical experiences of other countries. He warned of adverse consequences while urging Turkey to reconsider its decision to host the NATO radar.
Arınç also signaled that Turkey may launch a military operation in Kandil in northern Iraq. We do not need permission to do that. These things are not being spoken of but rather being implemented, he said.
Turkey says it will do