Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has criticised Iran’s decision to hold military drills near its border, a move that has escalated tensions between both sides.
In an interview with Anadolu Agency on Tuesday, Aliyev said he was “very surprised” with Iran’s decision to conduct exercises. “Why now? Why exactly on our border?” Aliyev questioned. Additionally, he asked, “Why are they being held after we have liberated our lands and put an end to 30 years of bondage and occupation?” referring to last year’s war between Azerbaijan and Armenia over Nagorno-Karabakh, which was decisively won by the former.
Aliyev responded to footage circulating on social media that showed Iranian soldiers conducting military exercises near the Azerbaijan-Iran border earlier this week. The Iranian drills come as Azerbaijan began charging Iranian truck drivers fees for passing through the disputed Karabakh region, which Baku claims is a part of its sovereign territory. According to Armenian media, the trucks were transporting cement to Armenia.
Pointing that this was not the first time that Iran violated Azerbaijan’s sovereignty, Aliyev said Iranian trucks have passed through Karabakh several times during Armenia’s “occupation” of the region. “This is disrespect for us, it is disrespect for the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan, so this must be stopped,” he stressed.
Noting that about 60 Iranian trucks “illegally entered Karabakh” from August 11 to September 11, Aliyev said that Azerbaijan was correctly charging the trucks. “Don’t we pay duty when we travel to a foreign country? We do. They are using the territory of Azerbaijan, so aren’t they supposed to pay?” he added.
Responding to Aliyev’s comments about Iranian military exercises, Tehran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Saeed Khatibzadeh, said the Azerbaijani President’s remarks are “surprising,” as “they come at a time when Tehran and Baku have good relations based on mutual respect.” “Iran has always opposed any occupation of territory and stressed the need for respecting the territorial integrity of countries and internationally recognised borders,” he said.
Moreover, Khatibzadeh said the drills were “a sovereign issue and aimed at protecting regional security.”
Referring to Azerbaijan’s close ties with Israel, the spokesperson said, “Iran will not tolerate the Israeli regime’s presence near its borders even if it’s ceremonial [and] will take any actions it deems necessary to protect its national security.”
While Tehran’s relations with Baku have mostly been positive, the former has expressed concerns over Azerbaijan’s ties with Israel, especially in terms of military and security. Israel is one of the leading suppliers of drones and other weapons to Azerbaijan, used against Armenia in last year’s Nagorno-Karabakh war. On the other hand, Azerbaijan has been wary of Iran’s strong strategic partnership with arch-enemy Armenia and has even accused Tehran of tacitly supplying arms to Baku.
Azerbaijani President Aliyev Criticises Iranian Military Drills Near Border
Iran responded by saying that it is a matter of sovereignty.
September 29, 2021
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev SOURCE: ASOOCIATED PRESS