A newspaper from Saudi Arabia, Okaz, has published a controversial article where the author interviewed a senior figure from the PKK terror organization and termed him the group's "so-called" minister of foreign affairs.

The journalist, Abdullah al-Ghadawi, reportedly attempted to interview Cemil Bayık, one of the PKK's leaders, but the group allowed an interview with Riza Altun.

The PKK is recognized as a terrorist group by the U.S., the EU, and Turkey. It has been in an armed conflict against Turkey for nearly four decades, during which more than 30,000 people have been killed.

During the interview, Altun said the PKK was still in contact with the Assad regime and they saw Hashd al-Shaabi as no different than the Daesh terrorist group.

According to the article, the senior PKK terrorist said the terrorist group is present in every country in the Middle East. In a comment explaining the PKK's stance on Iran he said, "We are monitoring what's happening in Iran and the calm that you see now can be the one before the storm," he said. Altun said the PKK does not trust the U.S.'s imperialism, which provides large military support to the group's affiliate in Syria.