Minister of National Defense Güler announced that they provided Tehran with daily intelligence on the PKK, which transferred armed forces to Iran during the Israel–Iran war.
Minister of National Defense Yaşar Güler announced that Türkiye has been providing Tehran with daily intelligence on the PKK and its Iranian affiliate PJAK, which—contrary to their promise to disarm and come to Ankara in anticipation of a regime change in Iran during the Israel–Iran war in June 2025—transferred armed forces from Iraq instead. Speaking at a press conference on December 19, Güler said that thanks to this intelligence, Iran carried out operations against PJAK.
Güler’s remarks were as follows:
“During the Israel–Iran war, PJAK in Iran made statements along these lines, thinking that Iran would lose the war and that there might even be a change of government in Iran. The conflict between Israel and Iran did not end in the way they wanted, and Iran inflicted heavy losses on the terrorist organization PJAK by conducting operations against it.”
“After the terrorist organization PKK announced that it would lay down its arms, it attempted to transfer many terrorists, weapons, and ammunition from northern Iraq to Iran. We informed Iran of this every day. They, in turn, carry out operations whenever they find the opportunity. Through this, Iran has also come to see the true face of the terrorist organization PJAK more clearly.”
“It Will Not End the Way the PKK Wants”
In this way, Güler drew a connection between the Israel–Iran attacks, the PKK and its Iranian wing PJAK, and the “Terror-Free Türkiye” process. Following a call by MHP leader Devlet Bahçeli and the February 27 appeal by PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan, the organization decided at its May 5–7 congress to dissolve itself and end armed struggle. Israel’s attack on Iran, which began on June 13, ended on June 24 with U.S. bombardment. Güler says that with Israel’s attack on Iran, the PKK, instead of laying down its arms, transferred its armed forces to Iran in the hope that the regime would be overthrown.
Güler’s statements regarding the Terror-Free Türkiye process and its future were as follows:
“At the moment we completely finished off the PKK, the terrorist organization also announced that it would comply with the ‘Terror-Free Türkiye’ process. In other words, through successful operations, we achieved our goal by bringing the terrorist organization to the stage of laying down arms.”
“The Turkish Armed Forces and the relevant units of our state are aware of what is happening in this process. Just as we devoted attention to the fight against terrorism in the past, we are now devoting the same sensitivity to the Terror-Free Türkiye process. The process will continue not in the way the terrorist organization wants, but in the way determined and desired by our state.”
Syria: U.S. Views Are Changing
Drawing attention to the position of the SDF in Syria regarding the Terror-Free Türkiye process and the PKK, the Minister of National Defense also touched on the ongoing talks in Syria between the SDF, the Damascus administration, and the United States:
“Talks with the U.S. regarding integration are continuing. U.S. thinking has changed quite a bit. Our American friends now see the realities more clearly, and our differences of opinion on this issue are decreasing.”
“We have stated clearly what we want. There is no stepping back from this. They must absolutely integrate into the Syrian army. The SDF also talks about integration, but what they mean is integration as a unit. They must integrate individually, not as a unit. Otherwise, it cannot be called integration.”
In recent days, following contacts by U.S. Ambassador to Ankara and Special Envoy for Syria Tom Barrack across the Jerusalem–Ankara–Damascus triangle, reports emerged that the Damascus administration had largely accepted the SDF’s demands, but these reports were not confirmed.
