Efforts to Reopen the Fourth Border Crossing in Van; Türkmenoğlu's New Promise

A New Step Toward Developing Van's Border Trade Van, known as Turkey's main gateway to Iran and Eastern markets, is on the verge of a new transformation. Kayhan Türkmenoğlu, an AK Party MP and Chairman of the Turkey-Iran Inter-Parliamentary Friendship Group, emphasized on June 29, 2026, that efforts to launch the fourth border crossing in this province are being pursued rapidly [1]. This terminal, known as "Gelincik," is intended to establish a connection between the Başkale district in Van and the Közereş district in Salmas, Iran. ## Diplomatic Meeting in the Turkish Parliament This announcement followed a meeting between a delegation from the Iranian Chamber of Commerce, led by Samad Hassanzadeh, and members of the Turkish Parliament. In this meeting held in late June 2026, Türkmenoğlu emphasized Turkey's firm will to strengthen economic and diplomatic cooperation with its eastern neighbor [2]. He noted that recent international agreements could also contribute to regional stability and pave the way for expanding bilateral investments and removing trade barriers. ## Importance of the Gelincik Crossing for the Regional Economy The Gelincik border crossing, which had remained inactive for decades, has now become one of the main priorities for infrastructure development in eastern Turkey. According to experts, the opening of this border will not only reduce the workload on the busy "Kapıköy" crossing but also significantly lower logistics costs for traders from both countries [3]. Türkmenoğlu mentioned that the determination of the exact customs location and technical infrastructure has been completed in cooperation with expert teams from both countries, and final diplomatic stages for the official reopening are now underway. ## Creating Job Opportunities and Boosting Tourism With the activation of this border crossing, thousands of new jobs are expected to be created in the transportation, warehousing, and customs services sectors in Van province. Additionally, facilitating passenger traffic could breathe new life into Van's tourism industry, which has always been a popular destination for Iranian citizens [1]. Türkmenoğlu believes this project is part of Turkey's strategic vision to turn Van into an international logistics hub that can extend trade routes to Central Asia and the Persian Gulf countries [2].