Recent developments regarding Iran-Azerbaijan tensions
"Iran and Armenia do not allow third countries to interfere in closing the border between the two countries"
Shahriyar Heydari, the Chairman of the Border Committee of the National Security Commission of the Iranian Parliament, claims that the border between the Islamic Republic of Iran and Armenia is entirely separate and safe, and both sides are determined to prevent any border violations and illegal crossings. He said Iran would not allow third countries to intervene on this border.
Shahriyar Heydari touched upon some scandals related to the closing of the border between Iran and Armenia: "As the Supreme Leader of Iran [Khamenei] emphasized in his meeting with Erdoğan and Putin, the Islamic Republic of Iran will not allow the closing of the borders of the two countries."
The MP emphasized that Iran has long land and sea borders with 15 countries.
Referring to the strategic position of Armenia in the Caucasus region, he noted: "This issue has created many problems for Armenia. One of them was the Karabakh conflict, which ended with a military conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan, but the problem must be solved seriously and fundamentally through political and diplomatic means." "In this regard, the Islamic Republic of Iran believes that both countries should resolve the issue through a political solution. On the other hand, although some transregional countries are trying to create a corridor between Armenia and Nakhchivan to sideline Iran, Armenia and Iran emphasize the importance of protecting the territorial integrity of the regional countries," Heydari claimed.
He also reminded that Khamenei emphasized preserving the territorial integrity of the countries in the north of Iran: "We have a 47-kilometer common border with Armenia, a part of which is the Araz River on the border, and we will not allow any destruction to these borders."
Threat from the Iranian general: "Any change in the border with Armenia is unacceptable"
Mansour Haghighatpour, a former general of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (SEPAH) and a former MP from Ardabil, claimed: "Thanks to the Islamic revolution, today Iran has become a regional superpower, and political, security, defense, and economic processes cannot be realized without the opinion of the Islamic Republic of Iran."
According to the political commentator, Iran is primarily interested in West Asia's issues. Today's issues such as Syria, Yemen, and Iraq, the security of the Caucasus region, and the preservation of ancient communication routes such as the Iran-Armenia border are relevant, which Khamenei also touched on.
Haghighatpour threatened Turkey by saying that two days ago, Ayatollah Khamenei brought the main line and direction regarding the Caucasus and Syria to the attention of the Turkish president. It was said that Syria would not accept a new war. If this happens, Erdoğan himself will be the biggest loser and sufferer."
He added: "The supreme leader of Iran has clearly stated the importance of preserving the communication corridor between Iran and Armenia in the matter of geopolitical changes and stressed that no changes in this border are acceptable."
"Azerbaijan is trying to change the demographic composition of the Karabakh"
Websites close to Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and security agencies describe Karabakh as Armenian territory.
On the Telegram channel of the Azariha website, which the IRGC and pan-Iranist circles control, the liberation of Karabakh was distorted as lands conquered by Azerbaijan.
"Baku has started a policy of relocating its citizens to the territories it conquered in the war of 2020. Baku, which was able to conquer big cities such as Jabrayil, Shushi [Shusha], and Aghdam in the war, named this new policy - The Great Return," the site wrote.
Iranian elite about Azerbaijan: "Azerbaijan has practically become a training ground for Israeli forces”
Iran's Farazdaily website writes: "Iran's diplomatic relations with neighboring countries is completely different from the image shown by the 13th government and its political supporters. For a long time, the authorities have been talking about prioritizing relations with neighbors and, of course, regional influence in response to criticism that Iran has cut ties with an important part of the world. This approach is, of course, part of a larger strategy called Look East. However, the real picture of events in the region shows a completely different situation compared to Iran's relations with its neighbors."
The website added: "Our problem is that the deterioration of relations between Iraq and Iran is not unique to Iraq. More specifically, we are in trouble or serious competition with almost all our neighbors. In the northwest of Iran, Turkey is building a border wall with us, and we have a serious conflict with it in Syria. Moreover, Turkey is a ruthless rival of Iran in many economic fields."
The part of the article about Azerbaijan says: "In the northern part of Iran, Azerbaijan has practically become a training ground for Israeli forces, and Baku's insistence on building the Zangazur Corridor will reduce a large part of Iran's geopolitical importance in that region. Apart from these, the ethnic issues of the two countries in Iran's continuous efforts to incite is not an issue that can be ignored in recent years."
Iran's Ambassador to Azerbaijan meets Iranian Foreign Minister after harsh statement exchange with Israeli Ambassador
On July 24, Abbas Mousavi, the Ambassador of Iran to Azerbaijan, met with his country's Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian. In a meeting with his country's Ambassador to Azerbaijan, Huseyn Amir Abdollahian, Iran's Foreign Minister, stressed Iran's strong will to develop relations with Azerbaijan comprehensively and gave necessary instructions in this field.
Iran's Ambassador to Azerbaijan informed about the latest developments in bilateral relations with the country where he carries out his diplomatic mission. At the meeting, Amir Abdollahian also noted the importance of relations with neighbors, primarily Muslim countries.
Earlier, Caucasus Watch reported that Israel's Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed its opinion on threats from Iran's Ambassador to Azerbaijan, Abbas Mousavi, to Israeli Ambassador to Azerbaijan, George Deek, for sharing about Tabriz. Joshua Zarka, deputy of the strategic affairs department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Israel, shared his opinion on social networks. He reacted to the statement made by the Ambassador of Iran to Azerbaijan about the publication of the photo of the book about Tabriz by the Ambassador of Israel. "Iran threatens to abduct Swedish citizens because of the arrest of a terrorist. Iran's Ambassador to Azerbaijan threatens our Ambassador with reading a book. This regime brought the country and its people, including Tabriz, to the worst level and created conflicts with everyone," Joshua Zarka wrote.
On July 19, Ali Khamenei, Iran's religious leader, expressed his concern about the possibility of closing the Armenian-Iranian border on his Twitter page. "We are happy that Karabakh returned to Azerbaijan. However, if there is a policy of closing the Iranian-Armenian border, Iran will oppose it. This is because this border has been a communication route for thousands of years," stated Khamenei. On the same day, Iran's religious leader wrote in a threatening tone on his Twitter account, referring to the opening of the "Zangazur corridor": "The Islamic Republic will not tolerate policies or plans that will lead to the closure of the Iran-Armenia border."
After Khamenei’s remarks, George Deek, the Israeli Ambassador in Azerbaijan, shared about the book "Magical Tales of Tabriz," which tells about the history and art of Tabriz, the city in the North of Iran populated by ethnic Azerbaijanis. The Israeli diplomat wrote on Twitter: "I am learning a lot about the history and culture of Azerbaijan in Tabriz in this great book that was given to me recently. What are you reading these days?"
Iran's Ambassador to Azerbaijan, Abbas Mousavi, responded to the Israeli Ambassador to Baku's book about Tabriz on his Twitter account: "For the attention of this boy who is looking for adventure: Our dear Tabriz is known as the land of firsts in the proud history of Iran. It seems that the zealous population of Tabriz will bury the first evil Zionist. Never cross our red line, never!"
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Israeli Foreign Ministry's Response to Iranian Ambassador's Threat to Azerbaijan