Turkey to Build Wall Along Iran Border: What Issues Is Turkey Addressing?

The governor of Van province in modern Turkey, Mehmet Emin Bilmez, has announced the construction of a wall along the Iranian border, stretching 64 kilometers, in response to migration pressures. The construction is set to be completed by the end of 2021, after which another 63-kilometer wall will be built. The governor emphasized that a 160-kilometer trench will also be constructed adjacent to the border wall, as reported by Ahval.

The wall will be militarized, featuring 58 observation and 45 communication towers equipped with thermal cameras (which capture images in the dark), radars, sensors, and fire control systems. The decision to construct the wall is linked to the potential influx of Afghan refugees into Turkey, driven by the sharp resurgence of the Taliban following the withdrawal of American troops from Afghanistan.

The Turkey-Iran border stretches 534 kilometers and is frequently crossed by Afghan refugees escaping military operations in their homeland.