Ibrahim Azizi, Chairman of the National Security and Foreign Policy Committee of the Iranian Parliament, stated that during the recent 12-day war, Israeli drones entered Iranian territory from Azerbaijan. According to him, border guards directly observed this.
The editorial office, citing Iran International, reports that Azizi noted in an interview with state media that the Iranian Presidency and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs discussed the issue with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev. He added that Ilham Aliyev requested evidence, but stated that the observations of the border guards were an “undeniable fact”.
At the end of June, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, in a phone call with Ilham Aliyev, requested an investigation into claims of drones entering Iran from Azerbaijan. Ilham Aliyev, in turn, stated that this was a “red line” and that his country's territory would not be allowed to be used for such purposes.
Iran has long expressed concern about Israel's security and intelligence activities in Azerbaijan. However, Baku has repeatedly rejected these accusations and declared that its territory is not allowed to be used against Iran.
Despite this, distrust between the parties continues. The Zangezur corridor project, in particular, causes concern in Iran. Most recently, a peace agreement brokered by the US between Armenia and Azerbaijan granted Washington lease rights over the corridor, and the project was named the “Trump International Peace and Prosperity Route”.
Despite the ongoing tension in relations, Iran and Azerbaijan continue cooperation in trade, energy, and infrastructure, including the Rasht-Astara railway project.
It is regrettable to note that official Tehran is completely unaware of President Ilham Aliyev's phrase "Our Word is Our Signature", a quality it lacks itself, and has no opinion on this matter.
Sevinj Karimova