“We are in contact with Iran,” Cavusoglu told private broadcaster Haberturk.

“PKK is a threat to them as well. Qandil is very close to the Iranian border ... We will improve cooperation with Iran.”

Turkey recently launched military operations to eliminate the PKK in northern Iraq, targeting its headquarters in the Qandil Mountain region and in the Sinjar province of the country, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on June 11.

Ankara’s preparations for a large-scale operation against the PKK presence in the northern Iraq began in early March with Special Forces and a scores of troops penetrating into the difficult terrain to set up regional bases. Turkey now has 11 bases in northern Iraq in a bid to effectively and sustainably fight against the PKK, which for decades has enjoyed a relative security vacuum in the region.

Reporter’s code: 50101