Turkey, Iran leaders to put heads together to keep region safe from growing threats

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan will pay an official visit to Tehran Wednesday to discuss bilateral relations and regional issues amid growing tension following the Kurdistan Regional Government’s (KRG) referendum to secede from Iraq. According to presidential sources, Erdoğan is scheduled to meet with his Iranian counterpart Hassan Rouhani and the country’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei during his visit, which comes upon the invitation by Rouhani. A convergence has evolved between Ankara, Tehran and the Iraqi central government following last week’s illegitimate poll in KRG-controlled areas as well as disputed territories such as Kirkuk amid fears that the vote may lead to greater instability in the region and disrupt war with Daesh. Two days prior to Erdoğan’s visit, Turkish Chief of General Staff Gen. Hulusi Akar went to Tehran where he met his Iranian counterpart, Gen. Mohammad Hossein Bagheri.