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Iran and Armenia will not allow creation of corridor – Ambassador Abbas Badakhshan Zohouri

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16:04, 9 February 2023

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 9, ARMENPRESS. Iranian Ambassador to Armenia Abbas Badakhshan Zohouri said that the leaders of Armenia and Iran are closely following the regional developments. The Ambassador said that in this context Armenia and Iran must have a special agenda.

“Armenia and Iran are and will be neighbors. Of course, we see some ruse, they speak about so-called corridors and some actions, but Iran and Armenia will not allow the creation of such corridor,” the Iranian ambassador said.

He added that the stance of both the Iranian and Armenian sides is very clear.

“We must also be proactive. We must see what new steps we can take. We shouldn’t wait for a new idea to come up, for example, about the opening of a corridor, for us to start deciding what position to adopt. We shouldn’t allow such thing,” he said.

He said the establishment of the Iranian consulate-general in Kapan is an exemplary action in this regard, as well as the upcoming opening of the Armenian consulate in Tabriz.

 

 

https://armenpress.am/eng/news/1103771.html?fbclid=IwAR0GqFRBaLFR6l2xEV-dxvTvCu-Xd7fg1DCSGKYIzrJW__nG9dib_pL-4VY

[MosJan]

[Yervant1]

Al-Mayadeen

Feb 17 2023

The future of Tehran-Baku relations

• Farzad Ramezani Bonesh
  

• 
  

There is already tension in the relations between Baku and Tehran, but it is possible to avoid breaking relationships or making them more dramatic.

Relations between Iran and the Republic of Azerbaijan have witnessed complications in recent years, but with the attack on the Embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan in Tehran, things have become more complicated and sensitive.

At the end of January, the Embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan in Tehran was the target of an armed attack in which one citizen of the Republic of Azerbaijan was killed and two others were injured. In the midst of the coldness of the relations, the telephone conversation between officials, condolences to Azerbaijan were not effective, and the media in Baku intensified their attacks against Iran.

In fact, Baku authorities called the attack on the embassy a "terrorist act" and issued a "travel warning" regarding the presence of Azerbaijan’s citizens in Iran. From Tehran's point of view, this was caused by the attacker's personal motivation. In fact, the complete departure of the embassy staff and their families from Tehran is "temporary" and does not mean the termination of diplomatic relations between the two countries, and the Azerbaijani consulate in Tabriz is open. But this incident has affected the outlook of relations.

Changing geopolitics

Northern Aras was a part of Iran until the 19th century, but after the defeat in the war with Russia, it was ceded. After the independence of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Tehran supported Baku at the beginning of the first Armenian-Azerbaijani war (1988-1994). However, Tehran's approach during the second 44-day war between Armenia and Azerbaijan (2020), which supported the recovery of many lost areas, did not meet Baku's satisfaction.

In the interpretation of the 2020 ceasefire agreement, Baku demands the right to have a land and extraterritorial rail corridor along the current border of Armenia and Iran (Azerbaijan- Syunik-Nakhchivan-Turkey) or Zangezur Corridor.

However, Tehran sided with Yerevan on the issue of the Zangezur Corridor and the dispute still remains. As of September 2022, Iran warned against changing the Azerbaijan-Armenia borders.

In addition to this, the expansion of relations between Iran and Armenia, the opening of the Iranian consulate in the city of Qapan in Armenia, the military maneuvers on the border of Aras, and in a way Iran's tacit support for Armenia can be seen, which is not welcomed by Baku. In fact, if the drills of Iran and Azerbaijan continue on the border like in the past years, it will not be possible to change the conditions to a completely normal situation in terms of relations.

Also, Tehran is worried about Turkey's aggressive policy near its borders. Iran is worried that the strengthening of Turkey's foothold in Azerbaijan and the Caucasus will limit Tehran's access to Armenia and weaken its transit advantage and its military-political and commercial-economic position. This would be a geopolitical disaster for Iran.

In another dimension, the deepening of relations between Azerbaijan and "Israel" has added to Iran's concerns, as in 2022, trade exchanges between Azerbaijan and "Israel" will reach more than 1.2 billion dollars. From Tehran's point of view, "Israel's" presence in the region and the relations between Azerbaijan and the Israeli occupation (like an iceberg) can lead to tension and differences in the relations between Tehran and Baku.

The expansion of relations between Azerbaijan and "Israel", and the opening of the Azerbaijani embassy in "Tel Aviv" have also been criticized by Iran. For many years, Iran has accused "Israel" of attacks against its interests and sees allowing military presence near the borders, and sheltering Israeli forces in Azerbaijan, as practically turning Azerbaijan into a field of attack against Iran.

On the other hand, the reduction of Moscow's presence in the South Caucasus will force Iran to look for ways to increase its position in the region. But if Baku still feels that Tehran is not in a position to maintain its power in the South Caucasus, the tensions and conflicts will increase. Meanwhile, the 3+3 talks (Georgia+ Armenia+ Azerbaijan and Russia+ Iran+ Turkey) can be a useful solution to reduce tension and advance solutions for the Caucasus.

Politics and security

Iran is against the presence of foreign and extra-regional forces in the South Caucasus. The danger of the presence of foreign fighters near Iran's borders will lead to a reaction by Tehran.

In addition, the fact that Azerbaijani members of ISIS citizens were included in the terror attack on the Shah Cheragh shrine in Shiraz, and Baku's greater security and military cooperation with "Israel" and NATO, in addition to the arrest of many spies, can have a more negative impact on bilateral relations in the future.

Moreover, more than 12 percent of Iran's population are Azeri, and they are mostly present in the northwest of the country. Separatist activities in Iran can be an important challenge.

Iran is sensitive to some separatist sentiments and the reaction of pan-Azeri movements in the Republic of Azerbaijan. If the media and authorities of Azerbaijan fuel separatism, it can make relations much more challenging. In addition, continuous criticism can increase the scope of problems, and in November 2022, Iran's ambassador to Baku, and Azerbaijan's ambassador to Tehran, were summoned.

Economic relations

Despite the 25% growth of trade between the two countries, with the trade balance reaching about 120 million dollars, the fact is that Iran's trade with Azerbaijan does not constitute a significant figure, and despite the effects of political and security decisions, numerous economic potentials have not yet been realized.

The perspective of relationships

Condemning the armed attack at the entrance of the Embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan in Tehran, Iran announced the arrest of the assailant and the investigation of various aspects of the incident.

In this situation, if Tehran convinces Baku about the result of the investigations, the punishment of criminals, and guarantees the security of diplomatic missions, relations will probably face an improvement.

There is already tension in the relations between Baku and Tehran, but it is possible to avoid breaking relationships or making them more dramatic.

Paying attention to the opportunities and political economic potentials in relations, such as fulfilling all the agreements reached, Iran's participation in the revival of Nagorno-Karabakh, the reconstruction of the railway line, the outpost in the Khoda Afrin area, the construction of a bridge over the Aras River, the completion of the North-South International Corridor (INSC) and... can lead to the restoration of relations.

However, the assumption of severance of relations between the two countries and even a military intervention is very pessimistic. Due to the existence of various geopolitical and political security variables involved, it is more likely that relations be reduced to a consulate level (Iranian consulate in Nakhchivan and Azerbaijani consulate in Tabriz) or that diplomatic and political interaction be reduced in the short term.

The opinions mentioned in this article do not necessarily reflect the opinion of Al mayadeen, but rather express the opinion of its writer exclusively.

https://english.almayadeen.net/articles/opinion/the-future-of-tehran-baku-relations

[MosJan]

[MosJan]

[Yervant1]

March 10 2023

Iran warns Turkey that it is uncomfortable with Israel’s presence in the Caucasus

by Levent Kenez

Levent Kenez/Stockholm

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian stated at a press conference on Wednesday that Israel’s presence in the Caucasus is a threat to peace in the region, following a meeting with his Turkish counterpart, Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu, to whom he paid a visit to show solidarity with Turkey due to devastating earthquakes that struck the country on February 6.

Beginning his speech by applauding March 8, International Women’s Day, Abdollahian said women are the main element of society in Iran.

Stating that both countries should be sensitive to and careful about security in the region, the Iranian minister claimed that the most important reason for the crisis in the Caucasus was the presence of Israel in the region.

“We see the presence of the Zionist regime in the region as a major threat to peace and stability. Wherever this regime is involved, there has been insecurity and crisis. The Islamic Republic of Iran warns the parties to pay close attention to the behavior of the Zionist regime. They should not allow its presence in the region,” said the Iranian minister.

The basis of what Abdollahian implicitly expressed is no doubt the growing cooperation between Israel and Azerbaijan, a close ally of Turkey. Iran sees Israel’s presence in Azerbaijan as part of its encirclement by the West. Tehran has long claimed that Israel is conducting intelligence operations by using Azeri elements in Iran and that it has succeeded in carrying out some sabotage and assassinations.

Israel had maintained a balance in relations with Armenia during the Second Nagorno-Karabakh War in 2020; however, it at the same time provided tacit support to Azerbaijan. A significant number of the military vehicles and drones that led Azerbaijan to victory were purchased from Israel. Armenia protested this support by withdrawing its ambassador, whom it had appointed only two weeks earlier, in October 2020. In addition, during celebrations held after Azerbaijan’s victory, some Azerbaijanis waved the Israeli flag along with the flags of Azerbaijan and Turkey.

Turkish media reported that according the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), 26.6 percent of arms sales to Azerbaijan between 2011-2020 were from Israel. It is estimated that 17 percent of Israel’s total arms sales are directed to Azerbaijan. Israel is Azerbaijan’s third largest trading partner with exports of $1.33 billion, meeting 40 percent of Israel’s oil needs. Israel was the source of 69 percent of Azerbaijan’s arms purchases between 2016 and 2020.

Another issue that came to the agenda during the Iranian minister’s visit is Tehran’s insistence on playing an active role in the normalization of relations between Turkey and Syria.

The first high-level bilateral contact between Ankara and Damascus since the civil war that started in Syria in 2011 took place on December 28, 2022. Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar and National Intelligence Organization (MIT) Undersecretary Hakan Fidan met with Syrian Defense Minister Ali Mahmoud Abbas and head of intelligence Ali Mamlouk, hosted by Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu.

Çavuşoğlu said he told his Iranian colleague that there was no problem with Iran’s participation in the next meeting that will be held between foreign ministers, adding that the only mechanism for Syria that exists at the moment is the Astana Process, the quartet platform comprising Turkey, Syria, Iran and Russia.

Noting that work for a Turkish-Syrian-Russian foreign ministers meeting is under way, Çavuşoğlu said, “We’re planning to have all four parties involved. The Russians offered to hold a meeting at the technical level for the preparation of a possible foreign ministers meeting for next week. We’ll send our deputy minister to Moscow. The Iranian side will also participate,” he said.

https://nordicmonitor.com/2023/03/26020/

[Yervant1]

March 15 2023

Further strain in Azerbaijan-Iran relations Azerbaijan sent two notes of protest in the past week to its southern neighbor, with whom relations have been steadily deteriorating.Heydar Isayev Mar 15, 2023

Azerbaijan's strained relations with Iran aren't getting any better. Baku has sent two protest notes to Tehran in recent days.

On March 11, Azerbaijan's foreign and defense ministries said in a joint statement that a military aircraft belonging to Iran flew non-stop along much of the length of the Azerbaijan-Iran state border from the direction of Zangilan district to Bilasuvar district and back. The route included several districts that Azerbaijan retook from Armenian forces in the 2020 Second Karabakh War.

"Contrary to the internationally accepted practice of warning the neighboring country in advance about approaching military aircraft to the state border, such a close proximity of a military aircraft of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the state border between the two countries and flying over the border line threatens the safety of civil aviation, and further deteriorates bilateral relations," the English statement read.

"The flight of a military aircraft for more than half an hour near the liberated territories of Azerbaijan is a provocation and unfriendly behavior towards Azerbaijan."

It added that the Iranian ambassador to Azerbaijan, Seyyed Abbas Mousavi, had been summoned to the Foreign Ministry and was handed a note of protest.

Iran responded publicly two days later when Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani said the flight was routine and took place well inside Iranian territory. By publicly protesting the flight and summoning the ambassador, Baku was "acting not in good faith" and "outside the bounds of normal relations between countries, especially neighboring countries," he said.

Earlier, on March 9, the spokesperson of Azerbaijan's Foreign Ministry, Aykhan Hajizade, told local media that Azerbaijan sent a note to Iran and was awaiting answers regarding the whereabouts of an Azerbaijani citizen who was lost in Iran. Farid Safarli, 26, had been in Iran since February 20 and was supposed to fly to Germany on March 4, but since then there has been no news of him, Hajizade said.

Azerbaijan's Foreign Ministry advised citizens "not to travel to Iran unless necessary, and those who do travel to show high caution" on January 27, after a deadly attack by a gunman on its embassy in Tehran.

Following the embassy attack, where the security chief was killed and two officers were wounded, Azerbaijan evacuated its embassy staff, effectively scaling back diplomatic relations.

On February 17, Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev directly blamed "some branches of the Iranian establishment" for the attack and told journalists that the relations between the two countries could be normalized only after those responsible are brought to justice.

The embassy attack was the most dramatic single incident in a deterioration of Baku-Tehran ties that has been going on for years. Azerbaijan has long accused Iran of favoring Armenia in the decades-long conflict over Karabakh – especially after the 2020 war, when Azerbaijan established control over its entire frontier with Iran.

Since then, Azerbaijan has regularly accused Iran of sending weapons to Armenians in Karabakh, and the two countries have repeatedly held military training along their shared border.

Another, related, factor in the tensions is Azerbaijan's warm ties with Iran's archrival Israel.

Azerbaijan's active military cooperation with Israel -- whose extent was outlined in a recent article in Haaretz -- was instrumental in Baku's victory in the 2020 war. Tehran worries that Israel uses Azerbaijan as a base for gathering intelligence on Iran and views it as a staging ground for possible future attacks.

A day before the controversial border flight, on March 10, Azerbaijani President Aliyev had a meeting with Israeli Intelligence Minister Gila Gamliel in Baku.

Meanwhile, Azerbaijan continues to detain alleged Iran-backed agents of destabilization. On March 13, the pro-government news agency APA reported that 32 people "who carried out acts of sabotage and disruption under the guise of religion were identified and detained," though the news has yet to be confirmed by law enforcement.

"Investigators established that they organized the sale of narcotics sent purposefully from the Islamic Republic of Iran and used the huge amount of money they got to promote religious radicalism in Azerbaijan and finance other disruptive activities," the report read.

Heydar Isayev is a journalist from Baku.

https://eurasianet.org/further-strain-in-azerbaijan-iran-relations

[Yervant1]

March 27 2023

Iran Not Opposed to Deployment of EU Monitoring Mission Along Armenian-Azerbaijani Border

Publication: Eurasia Daily Monitor Volume: 20 Issue: 50

By: Vali Kaleji

March 27, 2023 05:27 PM Age: 16 hours

(Source: The Moscow TImes)

The Iranian ambassador to Armenia, Abbas Badakhshan Zohouri, announced on the sidelines of the “Armenia-Iran Relations in Context of Common Interests” forum, which was held on February 10, that “Iran does not oppose the deployment of a civilian EU [European Union] monitoring mission to the Armenian-Azerbaijani border” (PanArmenian.net, February 10). Although the Iranian ambassador did not directly mention Azerbaijan, the Zangezur Corridor, nor the possible blockage of the common border between Iran and Armenia, nevertheless, he stipulated, “Armenia and Iran are and will be neighbors. Of course, we see some ruse, they speak about so-called corridors and some actions, but Iran and Armenia will not allow the creation of such a corridor” (Massis Post, February 9).

Tehran’s position on the EU mission is important for a number of reasons. First, following the collapse of the Soviet Union and throughout the past three decades, traditionally, Iran has opposed the intervention of extra-regional forces, especially the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, EU and United States, in the regional conflicts of the South Caucasus. For example, former Iranian ambassador to Armenia, Seyed Ali Saghaeyan, at a news conference in Yerevan on June 23, 2010, mentioned that “Iran is strongly opposed to US involvement in a multinational peacekeeping force that would presumably be deployed around Nagorno-Karabakh after the signing of an Armenian-Azerbaijani peace accord” (Azatutyun.com, June 23, 2010).

In fact, Iran has traditionally supported a regional approach to developments in the South Caucasus, including efforts to find a solution to the Karabakh stand-off between Armenia and Azerbaijan. For this reason, Iran did not oppose the deployment of Russian peacekeeping forces to the Karabakh region after the Second Karabakh War in 2020, nor to Abkhazia and South Ossetia after the Russo-Georgian war in August 2008. In this regard, Iran supports the “3+3” regional cooperation format, which includes Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan plus Russia, Turkey and Iran. The format could serve as a new postwar regional integration platform (see EDM, June 16, 2021), as “over the past three decades, various initiatives for regional cooperation in the South Caucasus have been proposed, but none proved successful or long-lasting because each failed to include all of the wider region’s key members.” Thus, against this backdrop, especially in supporting the 3+3 regional cooperation format, Iran’s lack of opposition to the deployment of the EU monitoring mission represents a newfound approach.

Second, while Iran has not opposed the EU mission, Azerbaijan and Russia have voiced their opposition to it. In this regard, on January 10, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev described the mission as a “fraud” (Media Max, January 24). For Russia’s part, during a press briefing on October 11, 2022, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova proclaimed, “We see this as yet another attempt by the EU to interfere by any means in the normalization of relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan to oust our country’s mediation efforts” (Armenian Weekly, October 12, 2022). While the difference in positions between Tehran and Baku was not surprising, it was rather unexpected that the Russian view diverged from that of Iran as the two sides have traditionally agreed on how to approach the South Caucasus.

Third, Tehran’s position on the EU mission is largely the result of Iranian uneasiness concerning threats to its common border with Armenia. Overall, Tehran is not opposed to the implementation of the “ninth clause of the 2020 Karabakh ceasefire agreement,” but it strongly opposes the “change of international borders” in the South Caucasus, as well as “the blocking of the Iranian-Armenian border” (see EDM, October 14, 2022). Therefore, the Iranian government hopes to prevent the realization of these threats near Iran’s northwestern borders through the auspices of the EU monitoring mission.

Importantly, Iran has basically only been able to rely on Armenia in supporting these concerns over the past two years; Russia has not had the expected position regarding the security and border concerns of Iran and Armenia, especially in relation to the Zangezur Corridor. In fact, the Kremlin has demonstrated that it seemingly does not share Iran’s perception that the blocking of its common border with Armenia represents a serious security threat. For this reason, Moscow, unlike Tehran and Yerevan, not only does not object to Baku’s desired corridor but also believes that this corridor should be implemented to remove blockages in communication and transit routes (JAM-news, November 28, 2022).

In this regard, the Russian ambassador to Azerbaijan, Mikhail Bocharnikov, who believes the necessary plans are in place for the development of the Zangezur Corridor, argued, “I do not see any unsolvable differences on this issue” (Hetq, February 9). In Iran, the view is prevalent that, despite the common interests of Iran and Russia in maintaining the balance of power in the South Caucasus, Russia’s transit, commercial and banking needs vis-à-vis Azerbaijan and Turkey following the re-invasion of Ukraine have made Moscow more flexible in its relations with Baku and Ankara.

As the conflict zones between Armenia and Azerbaijan, including the Karabakh region and Syunik province, are in the southern part of the region, Iran is in a “very vulnerable situation” as compared to Georgia, Turkey and Russia. As a result, Iran “strongly opposes” another war between Armenia and Azerbaijan because it would directly threaten Iranian security and border conditions (Regioncenter.info, February 12). However, despite the direct consequences of both Karabakh wars on Iran’s northwestern border, unlike Ankara and Moscow, Tehran does not have a representative at the joint Russian-Turkish center for monitoring the ceasefire regime in Karabakh.

In these circumstances, Iran’s positive position regarding the EU monitoring mission could be a sign of Tehran’s dissatisfaction with the positions of Moscow and Baku—in spite of the fact that “Iran has always balked at the injection of more foreign actors in its backyard.” In truth, the EU mission could provide a balancing force that is “in line with Iran’s interests,” even when relations between Brussels and Tehran are at an “all-time low” (Al-Monitor, January 31).

However, it is extremely unlikely that Iran’s positive stance on the EU mission will be taken to the step of agreeing to the possible deployment of foreign military forces near Iran’s borders. In fact, this will likely remain in place as Tehran’s “red line” in the South Caucasus. Instead, it seems that, within the atmosphere of close relations between Tehran and Moscow, especially since the start of the war in Ukraine, Iran will prefer to convince Russia to accompany and pay more attention to Iran’s security concerns, as well as to prevent a change in the balance of power in the region to the detriment of both Moscow and Tehran.

https://jamestown.org/program/iran-not-opposed-to-deployment-of-eu-monitoring-mission-along-armenian-azerbaijani-border/

[MosJan]

[Yervant1]

March 30 2023

OPINION

Existential crisis for Iran in South Caucasus

The question now is whether diplomacy will be enough to pull all sides back from the brink

By NIKOLA MIKOVICMARCH 30, 2023

Tensions between Azerbaijan and Armenia are threatening to destabilize the South Caucasus, prompting some to worry that Iran could eventually be pulled into a wider regional conflict. But is Iran really prepared to invade its Shia-majority neighbor to protect Armenia, or are recent military moves little more than bluster?

While Azerbaijan’s military continues to capture parts of Nagorno-Karabakh – internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan despite being under Armenian control for three decades – leaders in the energy-rich country accuse the Islamic Republic of amassing troops near its exclave of Nakhchivan, on Iran’s northwestern border.

Tehran hasn’t denied the allegations. On the contrary, the al-Quds Force – one of five branches of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) – has reported that its bases near the Armenia-Azerbaijan border are on high alert for a possible attack.

Heavy logistical movements of the Azerbaijani army raised concerns in Iran that an operation against Armenia was imminent, and IRGC commander Brigadier-General Mohammad Pakpour visited the area last Friday.

There are even reports that IRGC forces in Iran’s provinces of East and West Azerbaijan – where ethnic Azeris make up most of the population – have been ordered to full combat readiness.

But despite the recent spike in tensions, the current situation in the South Caucasus remains manageable, and Iran’s calculations are more strategic than tactical. At least for now.

Azerbaijan uses the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict as a way to pressure Armenia to build its section of the Nakhchivan corridor, a land route that would connect mainland Azerbaijan with Nakhchivan via southern Armenia’s province of Syunik. If built under Baku’s terms, the corridor would in effect cut off Iran from Armenia, something that Alireza Monadi, a representative of the Iranian city of Tabriz, said Tehran “will not allow.”

(Indeed, Mohammad-Reza Mirtajodini, Iran’s former vice-president for parliamentary affairs, has even called for Tehran to annex Nakhchivan in response.)

The IRGC was even more direct. On its official Telegram channels, the Revolutionary Guard posted open threats to Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev over his “hostile actions against Armenia.” Iran seems determined to prevent a potential Azerbaijani attack on southern Armenia, though it remains unclear how far it might go to avert such a scenario.

The reason for Iran’s concern is simple: Azerbaijan’s control over southern Armenia would jeopardize Tehran’s positions in the South Caucasus, and pose an existential threat to the Islamic Republic itself.

In the north, Iran would be completely surrounded by Turkic countries, and Tehran fears that Azerbaijan could eventually allow Israel to use its territory for attacks on the Islamic Republic. Already, Azerbaijan is strengthening its military and intelligence relations with Israel – Iran’s arch-enemy.

If Tehran turns a blind eye to Azerbaijani-Israeli cooperation, such a move could be interpreted as a sign of weakness. That’s why Tehran is expected to continue flexing its military muscles in the region – aiming to demonstrate that the territorial integrity of Armenia is Iran’s red line.

Time may be on Iran’s side, as the only major incident recently was in Nagorno-Karabakh, where Azerbaijani forces took “urgent measures” to prevent the construction of a road to bypass the Lachin corridor – the only road connecting Armenia with Nagorno-Karabakh.

For now, diplomacy appears to be the desired course of action. On March 11, Azerbaijan’s Foreign Ministry summoned the Iranian ambassador in Baku to protest against the presence of an Iranian warplane over the disputed area.

Earlier this year, Azerbaijan closed its embassy in Tehran and evacuated staff and their families after a gunman stormed the diplomatic mission, killing the security chief and wounding two guards. Thus diplomatic relations between the two neighbors remain tense, and both sides occasionally add fuel to the fire.

The question now is whether diplomacy will be enough to pull all sides back from the brink. Azerbaijan has considered engaging ethnic Azerbaijanis living in Iran as instruments against the Islamic Republic.

Last November, President Aliyev stressed that Azerbaijan would “do everything to protect the rights, freedoms, and security of Azerbaijanis living abroad, including Azerbaijanis in Iran.” His statement was a direct message to the Islamic Republic, designed to show that Baku has significant leverage in, and over Tehran.

Iran, for its part, could use the Shia factor as its trump card against Azerbaijan. But this could backfire, given that Baku frequently arrests members of Shiite groups that are allegedly planning to carry out acts of sabotage and disruption under the guise of religion.

If, however, Iran decides to raise the stakes and attack Israeli-backed Azerbaijan under any pretext, it risks an open confrontation with a country that will be strongly supported not only by Israel, but also by NATO member Turkey.

Thus policymakers in Tehran will have to think twice before taking any action in the South Caucasus. Direct confrontation can be avoided, but only if cooler heads prevail.

This article was provided by Syndication Bureau, which holds copyright.

https://asiatimes.com/2023/03/existential-crisis-for-iran-in-south-caucasus/

[Yervant1]

April 2 2023

Azerbaijan rejects Iran commander accusation of hosting Zionist, Daesh forces during Karabakh war

April 2, 2023 at 9:24 am

Azerbaijan has condemned and rejected accusations by a senior Iranian commander that the country has been hosting "Zionist" forces and Daesh militants since its conflict with Armenia over the Nagorno-Karabakh region.

According to Azerbaijani media, Iranian ground forces commander Kiomers Heydari made the claim that Zionists and Daesh members had a presence in Azerbaijan during and following the 2020 conflict over the Karabakh region, which saw the territory return to Azeri control.

A statement issued on Thursday by Azerbaijan's Defence Ministry rejected Heydari's remarks and accusations, saying they amounted to "dirty and slanderous opinions." It stressed that "the accusation of the Iranian side about the presence of any foreign forces in the territory of the Republic of Azerbaijan is groundless and completely unacceptable. In general, there are no foreign elements in the territory of the Republic of Azerbaijan."

Countering the accusation that Baku used Daesh militants and terrorists during the conflict, the ministry stated that "we inform you that the glorious Azerbaijan Army single-handedly freed our lands from occupation and wrote a record of victory. This claim is nothing more than an absurd accusation and slander."

READ: Azerbaijan arrests 39 belonging to Iran 'espionage network'

It added that "it is ironic and ridiculous that this accusation was made by a high-ranking military officer of a state that supports terrorism and whose name is known for committing terrorist acts in various countries around the world."

The ministry addressed Heydari's insistence that Iran would not allow changes to the border with Armenia, replying by emphasising the Armenian forces' occupation of Azerbaijani territory for almost 30 years, including a 132-kilometers stretch of the border with Iran.

The statement lamented that "the Iranian side has never once made an incriminating statement regarding Armenia. On the contrary, the Iranian-Armenian brotherhood became stronger during this period."

Throughout the Karabkah conflict and ever since, Tehran has criticised Baku's ever-developing relations with Tel Aviv. Those concerns only grew after reports last month allegedly found that Israel had sent almost 100 flights loaded with weapons to Azerbaijan, in exchange for Israel's intelligence agency Mossad gaining access to spy on Iran.

READ: Iran's mistake in its Nagorno-Karabakh policy sees Turkey reaping the rewards

https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230402-azerbaijan-rejects-iran-commander-accusation-of-hosting-zionist-daesh-forces-during-karabakh-war/

[Yervant1]

April 8 2023

Analysis: Will Azerbaijan-Iran tensions lead to war?

Tehran has warned it cannot ignore what it considers a security threat emanating from growing Azerbaijan-Israel ties.

By Maziar Motamedi

Published On 8 Apr 20238 Apr 2023

Tehran, Iran – Tensions between Iran and Azerbaijan have been steadily ramping up in recent months, and divisive incidents have become almost a weekly occurrence.

The Iranian Foreign Ministry on Friday promised “reciprocal diplomatic action” after Azerbaijan expelled four Iranian diplomats over “provocative actions” it did not name.

Azerbaijan arrested six of its own nationals hours earlier, who were accused of being linked to Iranian secret services and plotting a coup in the Caspian nation. It was the latest in a series of arrests in recent months with Baku linking all suspects to Tehran.

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, a close ally of Iran’s historical rival Turkey, blamed Tehran after a man stormed the Azerbaijani embassy in the capital in late January, killing its head of security and wounding others.

Iran said diplomatic relations should remain unaffected as the incident was the work of a lone gunman with personal motives, but Aliyev closed down the embassy as he denounced the “terrorist” attack.

Azerbaijan has also criticised Iran for allegedly backing Armenia in the decades-long conflict over the breakaway region of Nagorno-Karabakh.

Iran, on the other hand, which is home to millions of Turkic-speaking ethnic Azerbaijanis, has long accused Azerbaijan of inciting separatist sentiment inside its northwestern border.

The Israel factor

But even with all the points of contention in bilateral relations, perhaps a fast-growing relationship between Azerbaijan and Israel is what has irked Iran the most.

Tehran has been increasingly warning Baku against warming up to Tel Aviv, but the inflammatory rhetoric reached new heights last month after Israel and Azerbaijan’s top diplomats discussed “forming a united front” against Iran in a press conference.

Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov was in Tel Aviv to inaugurate his country’s embassy after Baku appointed its first-ever ambassador to Israel.

This new approach, Iran’s Foreign Ministry warned, could constitute a national security threat for Iran which cannot be ignored.

A majority of politicians in Iran’s parliament also denounced Azerbaijan’s move, saying in a statement “the Muslims of the world will consider them accomplices of the Zionist regime in the murder and crimes against the oppressed Palestinians”.

There are a variety of reasons and objectives behind the growing ties between Azerbaijan and Israel, not all of which are directly linked with Iran, according to Vali Kaleji, a Tehran-based Caucasia and Central Asia analyst.

He told Al Jazeera that politically, Azerbaijan needs a Jewish lobby to counter Armenian influence in the West, especially in the United States, while economically, Azerbaijan is a major supplier of oil to Israel.

“From a military point of view, the Republic of Azerbaijan, under the influence of the Armenian diaspora community, is not able to provide peace and get advanced military and defence equipment from European countries and America,” Kaleji said.

“In such a situation Turkey, Israel, and Pakistan have become the three main sources of defence and military needs of the Republic of Azerbaijan,” he added, pointing out this is a main area of concern for Iran.

Will there be war?

Tensions between Baku and Tehran have increasingly manifested in military form, with both sides flexing their military muscles in exercises meant as direct warnings.

Both the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and the army in Iran have held several rounds of high-level exercises in the northwestern parts of the country and near the border with Azerbaijan since the Nagorno-Karabakh war ended in 2020, displaying ground and air capabilities.

The most serious came last October when the IRGC for the first time built a pontoon bridge over a part of the Aras river that marks parts of the long border between Iran and Azerbaijan.

Days later, Iran’s Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian was in the southernmost Armenian province of Syunik to send another direct message to Azerbaijan and Turkey by inaugurating a consulate and declaring Armenian security as being tantamount to Iranian security.

The move was aimed at countering the “Zangezur corridor” that Azerbaijan and Turkey wish to establish between the exclave of Nakhchivan and the Azerbaijani mainland, which would effectively sever a major Iranian transit link with the South Caucasus and beyond.

Kaleji said – similar to the ebb and flow of tensions between Tehran and Baku in the past three decades – the current escalation could eventually lead to a cycle of de-escalation.

“Although recent tensions are very serious, there are many factors that prevent military conflict, including economic and trade interdependence, transit routes between Iran, Azerbaijan and Russia, and also Azerbaijan’s dependence on Iran’s communication route to reach Nakhchivan,” he said.

He also pointed out diplomatic channels remain open through the Azerbaijani consulate in Tabriz, in addition to the Iranian embassy in Baku and consulate in Nakhchivan, despite the closing down of the embassy in Tehran.

Turkey and Russia – which is increasingly growing closer to Iran after the Ukraine war – can act as mediators, a role similar to that currently played by China in repairing ties between Iran and Saudi Arabia, according to Kaleji.

“However, the fact is that Turkey and Russia, unlike Iran, do not have a threatening perception of Israel’s role in the Republic of Azerbaijan, the Zangezur corridor, and the threat of the common border between Iran and Armenia,” he said, adding the first step would be to understand those concerns and potentially follow up with joint regional talks.

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/4/8/analysis-will-azerbaijan-iran-tensions-lead-to-war

[Yervant1]

April 9 2023

Iranian Political Analyst Emad Abshenas: There Would Be No Azerbaijan Without Iran; If Russia Does Not Resolve Iran-Azerbaijan Tensions, Iran Might Be Forced to Act#10217 | 02:45
Source: Mayadeen TV (Lebanon)

Iranian political analyst Emad Abshenas, the editor-in-chief of Iran Diplomatic, said in a March 31, 2023 interview on Mayadeen TV (Lebanon) that had the IRGC’s Qods Force not intervened on behalf of Muslims in Azerbaijan, then the Armenians would have occupied Baku. He said that the Azeri people are ungrateful towards Iran, and that there would be “no Azerbaijan” were it not for Iran. He also said that if Russia fails to resolve the issues in Azerbaijan, Iran may be forced to act, and he added that the U.S. plans to expand NATO into Georgia and Azerbaijan if it is successful in Ukraine.

Watch the video at https://www.memri.org/tv/iranian-analyst-abshenas-azerbaijan-russia-nagorno-karabakh-america-ukraine-expand-nato

[Yervant1]

MEHR News Agency, Iran

April 10 2023

Baku should heed the Ukraine lesson

TEHRAN, Apr. 10 (MNA) – Tensions between Iran and the Republic of Azerbaijan have turned into a daily occurrence as a result of Baku’s “emotional and non-constructive” moves.

Over the last few weeks, Azerbaijani authorities have initiated a concerted campaign against Iran at the media and diplomatic levels. Azerbaijani media outlets are now disseminating slanted reports against Iran almost on a daily basis with the Baku officials providing them with the stuff they need.

Azerbaijan accused Iran of recruiting spies, supporting terrorist groups, and siding with Armenia among other things. Recently, Azerbaijan conducted a purge among Azerbaijani clerics and religious people. Also, it declared four Iranian embassy staff as persona non grata in a move that further escalated tensions between the two sides.

Iran’s response has been relatively restrained and measured. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kan'ani described Azerbaijan’s recent actions as “harsh, emotional, and non-constructive.”

Kan'ani said, “We believe that such a behavior by the government of the Republic of Azerbaijan is at odds with the principles of neighborliness."

He added that while crises and tension have engulfed the occupied Palestinian territories and the Zionist regime is at its weakest point and at a time when the regime wants to distract attention from its multiple internal crises inside occupied Palestine by attacking fasting Muslims and desecrating al-Aqsa Mosque, the Islamic Republic of Iran thinks that focusing on unity in the Muslim world and simultaneously countering normalization of ties with the criminal and usurping regime of Israel is a must and a religious and humane duty.

Kan'ani urged Azerbaijan to observe mutual respect, move toward good neighborly ties and avoid what is desired by the Zionists and enemies of the region.

The Foreign Ministry spokesman added that Iran underlines the need for observing the principles of neighborly relations and watching out for the evil aim of the Zionist regime to cause division and tension in ties between Muslim countries. At the same time, Kanaani added, Tehran is contemplating diplomatic moves in response.

In addition to its public statements, Iran has sought to soothe tensions through diplomatic channels. Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian spoke to his Azerbaijani counterpart twice in recent days.

Amir-Abdollahian and his Azerbaijani counterpart Jeyhoun Bayramov held two rounds of intensive talks (Friday evening and on Saturday afternoon) about the current developments in bilateral ties between Baku and Tehran and some regional issues, according to the Iranian foreign ministry.

In these candid and transparent conversations, Amir-Abdollahian and Bayramov exchanged views over the existing differences and misunderstandings and explored ways to get out of the current situation.

Amir-Abdollahian and Bayramov also underlined the necessity of controlling the media atmosphere in favor of the interests of the two nations.

In its interactions with Azerbaijan, Iran has been reiterating the need for Baku to be aware of Israel’s plots in the region. Referring to the plot of the Zionist regime against the unity, security, and progress of regional nations, Amir-Abdollahian said only enemies would benefit from disputes between countries of the region.

Pundits believe that the Republic of Azerbaijan needs to learn from the lessons of the Ukraine war, which indicated that the West has forsaken its promises of support for its allies. Nour News said in a recent report that the West let down President Zelensky of Ukraine despite the fact that they had vowed before the war to support him in the face of Russia. But when the war broke out, Western “strategic” support turned into a tactical one.

Nour News implied that the US is hatching a similar plot for the Republic of Azerbaijan, meaning that the US is pushing Azerbaijan to escalate tensions with Iran. According to the outlet, US National Security Advisor Jake Sulivan and Secretary of State Tony Blinken are secretly lobbying the US Senate for an increase of military aid to Baku. These efforts, Nour News said, are aimed at pushing Azerbaijan into an all-out crisis.

“Part of America's special game in the crisis in Karabakh is derived from NATO's calculated failure in the Ukraine war, especially in recent weeks,” the outlet said. “Officials of the Biden administration have advised him that perhaps by creating a parallel crisis, even on a limited scale, it is possible to prevent public opinion from focusing on NATO's logistical, field, and calculation weakness in the Ukraine war.”

With the US nudging Azerbaijan towards a crisis with Iran, observers believe that it is imperative for Azerbaijan to be cautious in undertaking actions that might escalate tensions in the South Caucasus region.

By: Sadegh Fereydounabadi

First published in Tehran Times

https://en.mehrnews.com/news/199291/Baku-should-heed-the-Ukraine-lesson

[Yervant1]

Iran - April 9 2023

Iran security chief: Conflict in Caucasus benefits no country, any geographical change leads to tension

Sunday, 09 April 2023 10:07 PM

Iran's top security official says tension and conflict in the Caucasus region benefit no country, while indicating Iran's opposition to any geographical change in that region.

Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) Ali Shamkhani made the remarks in a meeting with the visiting Secretary of Armenia’s Security Council Armen Grigoryan in Tehran on Sunday.

"Any geographical change in the South Caucasus region is a tension-building measure, which will play into the hands of the enemies of regional security and stability," Shamkhani said.

Iran's top security official added that continuous dialogue and interaction must replace any "hard approach" to ending regional challenges.

His remarks came against a backdrop of decades of tension between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region on the border between the two countries.

Karabakh is internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan, but has a primarily Armenian population that has resisted Azerbaijani rule since a separatist war there ended in 1994.

In 2020, the second Karabakh war broke out, killing more than 6,500 people on both sides during a six-week conflict. The war ended with a Russian-brokered deal that saw Yerevan cede swathes of the Azerbaijani territory that it had been holding for several decades.

Last month, Armenia said Azerbaijan was preparing an escalation against Yerevan via the use of an "aggressive rhetoric" that was aimed at undermining the existing agreements between the two countries. Yerevan also alleged that Baku was preparing for what it called subjecting the Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh to "genocide" and for "a new aggression" against Armenia.

Azerbaijan preparing for Armenian genocide in Karabakh region: Armenia FM

Armenia

Elsewhere in his remarks, Shamkhani said the Caucasus region is going through a sensitive period, expressing hope that Azerbaijan and Armenia would be able to overcome the existing tensions through self-restraint and prudence.

He mentioned development of cooperation and interaction with neighbors as an unchanging principle of Iran's foreign policy and a priority for the sitting Iranian administration.

"[Maintaining] good-neighborly relations and making a joint endeavor for the settlement of the regional challenges through peaceful means are among the Islamic Republic's most important pieces of advice to all [regional] parties," Shamkhani asserted.

For his part, Armenia's top security official said Iran played an "important role" in the development of relations among South Caucasus countries and also in protecting the regional security.

Grigoryan lauded Iran's "very effective" role in the realization of regional peace and stability, emphasizing that dialogue and interaction among countries constitute the only way of resolving the existing regional crises and preventing further tension and conflicts.

https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2023/04/09/701267/Iran-Armenia-Azerbaijan-Shamkhani-Grigoryan

[Yervant1]

TEHRAN TIMES

Iran - May 5 2023

Inscriptions found in Armenia may push back history of Iran’s lion symbol by centuries

1. Tourism
   

May 5, 2023 - 19:52

TEHRAN – Inscriptions discovered in a ruined mosque in a small village in Armenia can help trace the history of the Iranian lion symbol back several hundred years, a member of Iran’s Research Institute of Cultural Heritage and Tourism has said.

It turns out that Armenian inscriptions place the history of the lion symbol in Iranian petroglyphs 600 years earlier than archaeologists originally thought, ISNA quoted Morteza Rezvanfar as saying on Friday.

In one of these Persian inscriptions, a lion is engraved with a sword in hand next to the name of Imam Ali (AS), he added.

According to historical documents, this motif dates back to the time of the Qajar king Fath Ali Shah who reigned from 1797 to 1834, but these newly discovered inscriptions may push that date back over 600 years, he explained.

In addition to the lion and sun symbol, which dates back thousands of years, the first image of a lion holding a sword in inscriptions discovered in Iran, dates back to Qajar-era (1789-1925), and before that, the lion symbol have always had its feet on the ground, he noted.

Ancient Iran, also known as Persia, historic region of southwestern Asia that is only roughly coterminous with modern Iran. The term Persia was used for centuries, chiefly in the West, to designate those regions where the Persian language and culture predominated, but it more correctly refers to a region of southern Iran formerly known as Persis, alternatively as Pars or Parsa, modern Fars.

Parsa was the name of an Indo-European nomadic people who migrated into the region about 1000 BC. The first mention of Parsa occurs in the annals of Shalmanesar II, an Assyrian king, in 844 BC.

During the rule of the Persian Achaemenian dynasty (559–330 BC), the ancient Greeks first encountered the inhabitants of Persis on the Iranian plateau, when the Achaemenids—natives of Persis—were expanding their political sphere. The Achaemenids were the dominant dynasty during Greek history until the time of Alexander the Great, and the use of the name Persia was gradually extended by the Greeks and other peoples to apply to the whole Iranian plateau.

ABU/AM

https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/484342/Inscriptions-found-in-Armenia-may-push-back-history-of-Iran-s

[Yervant1]

May 7 2023

India, Iran, and Armenia: Trilateral Cooperation and Geopolitics of Trade Routes

Economic issues and regional communication channels are key to this trilateral cooperation.

ADITI BHADURI

Recently, on 20 April, the first trilateral political consultations between the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia, the Islamic Republic of Iran, and the Republic of India were held. The meeting took place in the Armenian capital of Yerevan. The delegations were headed by Mnatsakan Safaryan, the Deputy Foreign Minister of Armenia, Seyed Rasoul Mousavi, the Assistant of the Foreign Minister of Iran, Head of the Regional General Department of South Asia and J P Singh, the Joint Secretary of the Ministry of External Affairs of India.

“During the meeting, the sides particularly discussed economic issues and regional communication channels and outlined the prospects of deepening cultural and people-to-people contacts as well as trilateral cooperation in various fields. The sides agreed to continue consultations in a trilateral format,” a statement by the Armenian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.

India's Connectivity Ambitions

Economic issues and regional communication channels are key to this trilateral cooperation, which has been in the making for a while and is inevitable. The meeting also came soon after tensions erupted between Iran and Azerbaijan, Armenia’s arch-enemy when the latter arrested some men on charges of espionage for Iran.

India has been, in recent years, deepening its ties with Armenia, with which it already had ancient, civilizational ties. More recently, it has been supplying weapons to Armenia, as the latter found itself embroiled in military conflict with Azerbaijan over the contested territory of Nagorny-Karabakh, while Azerbaijan, backed by Turkey increased cooperation, including in the military sphere with Pakistan.

However, India’s cooperation with Iran and Armenia, both of whom share a common border, are important for its connectivity ambitions too, and much of the trilateral cooperation will undoubtedly be focused on that.

Since its victory over Armenia in the 2020 Karabakh war, Azerbaijan has been making, albeit indirectly, irredentist claims on lands that it believed historically belonged to it. Some of these are in Northern Iran, also known as Southern Azerbaijan. The war also resulted in some bordering areas of friendly Armenia now becoming part of Iran’s border with Azerbaijan. A year later, Baku conducted military drills on its territory together with Turkey and Pakistan. Iran is also wary of Israeli presence on Azerbaijan’s territory, though for India Israel is a close friend.

The Importance of the Zangezur Corridor

However, Azerbaijan’s pro-Pakistan position on Kashmir complements Turkey’s belligerence on Kashmir. For instance, last year on 27 October an event hosted by Pakistan’s embassy in Baku to commemorate “Kashmir Black Day”, was attended by members of Azerbaijan’s parliament as well as officials from its Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Both India and Iran are wary of Baku’s newfound belligerence.

However, more importantly, it is the politics of the international trade routes that have been a major driving force behind the trilateral alliance. A common threat for all three would be the Zangezur Corridor which Azerbaijan has been insisting on since the time it won the Second Karabakh war.

But what is the Zangezur Corridor?

The Zangezur Corridor is a land corridor that Azerbaijan envisages would connect it to the Azerbaijani exclave of Nakhichevan in western Armenia and onward to Turkey without Armenian border control over it. It cuts through Armenia’s southernmost province of Syuni which borders Iran’s Azeri province in the north. Armenians explain they are not against any land corridor as connectivity is critical for countries like it. However, since it runs through Armenian territory, it should be subject to Armenian control.

For both Azerbaijan and Turkey, this land corridor without Armenian control would open up routes to Central Asia, fan pan-Turkism, and would give Azerbaijan control over the borders with Iran which it can then cut off at will, cutting Iran completely off from northern route, rendering the 7,200-km long International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) - a multimodal trade route which connects India to the Russian Federation through Iran - useless, or put it at the will of Azerbaijan-Turkey combine.

In 2021 in a joint press conference together with Turkish President Reccep Tayyip Erdogan Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev said that "Both Turkey and Azerbaijan will take necessary steps for the realization of the Zangezur Corridor” which would "unite the entire Turkic world."

Most Armenians as well as Iran see the corridor as a joint Azerbaijan-Turkey project.

This is also why Iran is against the corridor. Since the 2020 Karabakh war, while Iran cheered for Azerbaijan, it has also been warning against any changes to Armenia’s international borders – effectively any change in Iran’s borders with Armenia, which gives it land access to Russia, the Black Sea and beyond through the territory of a friendly country. In a recent article the former Iranian Minister of Foreign Affairs Kamal Kharazi, now Director of Iran’s Strategic Council of Foreign Relations, made a stark warning against the Zangezur Corridor, in the model that Azerbaijan envisages, which Iran sees as a NATO-created Turan (pan-Turkic) corridor.

Reporting on the 20 April meeting the Iranian media also referred to trade routes and underscored Iran’s antipathy to the Zangezur Corridor.

Trilateral Cooperation is Imperative

For India, this is also bad tidings. In case Azerbaijan gets its way with the corridor, Indian access would be subject to its will, and it can cut off access anytime. It is a scenario all parties would like to preempt.

This is why perhaps both Iran and India have, for a while, been mulling having the International North South Transit Corridor run through Armenia and not through Azerbaijan, as earlier envisaged. In 2021,

India invited Armenia too

, along with its traditional partners, to the virtual meeting to mark Chabahar Day, even as it pitched for connecting the Chabahar port to Iran’s Bandar Abbas port which connects to the INSTC.

Soon after, the Indian Ambassador to Iran, Gaddam Dharmendra announced that India was planning to connect the Chabahar port, which India is investing in, on Iran’s eastern coast and the Indian Ocean with Eurasia and Helsinki through the INSTC which would run through the territory of Armenia.

Iran’s Trade Promotion Organization, Alireza Peymanpak, announced not long after: “Two alternative Iran-Eurasia transit routes will replace Azerbaijan’s route. First opens in a month via Armenia after [the] end of repair work, and the second via sea by purchasing and renting vessels.”

For all three countries, therefore, trilateral cooperation is imperative to keep communication and trade routes open. This would mean, first and foremost, to ensure Armenia’s territorial integrity. Azerbaijan, strategic thinkers converge, is acting not only in its own interest but largely also fulfilling the Turkish agenda. Turkey’s military inroads into South Asia are already substantial. With Azerbaijan is closely allied with both Pakistan and China, trilateral Indian, Iranian, and Armenian cooperation is inevitable.

(Aditi Bhaduri is a journalist and political analyst. She tweets @aditijan. This is an opinion piece. The views expressed above are the author’s own. The Quint neither endorses nor is responsible for them.)

https://www.thequint.com/opinion/india-iran-armenia-trilateral-cooperation-azerbaijan-pakistan-turkey

[Yervant1]

Armenia - June 14 2023

Erdogan: “Zangezur corridor is issue with Iran not Armenia”

Yerevan /Mediamax/. The President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan stated today that “difficulties connected with the Zangezur corridor are not related to Armenia, but Iran.”

“The Zangazur corridor is an issue with Iran, not with Armenia. Iran’s behavior upsets both Azerbaijan and us. Besides, the fees charged per wagon are very high. I hope we will solve the issue soon,” TASS says Erdogan said this upon returning from Azerbaijan.

He noted that “if they approached this positively, today Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Iran would be integrated with each other, both by road and by rail, and perhaps a Beijing-London line would be opened.”

https://mediamax.am/en/news/region/51650/

[Yervant1]

Financial Tribune, Iran

June 16 2023

Erdogan Criticizes Iran for Opposing Zangezur Corridor

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan criticized Iran on Wednesday for opposing the Zangezur Corridor, which would connect Azerbaijan to its Nakhichevan exclave through Armenia.

“Iran’s approach to this issue disappoints us and Azerbaijan,” Erdogan said while speaking to reporters on his way back from Baku.

“I wish that we can overcome this problem soon. If Iran would approach this positively, then Turkey-Azerbaijan-Iran would be linked to each other, and we can have a ‘Beijing-London’ line through land and railroads,” he added.

Iran’s Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei emphasized this stance when he met with Erdogan in Tehran last July. The Turkish leader claimed that unlike Tehran, Yerevan does not object to the idea of the “Zangezur Corridor,” which he discussed with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev during his visit to Baku.

Erdogan praised the visit by Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan to Ankara to attend his inauguration as the 13th president of Turkey in early June.

“Pashinyan’s acceptance of our invitation was an important step. Mr. Pashinyan attended our ceremony after overcoming a lot of obstacles stemming from the opposition in his country,” he said.

Pashinyan’s government regularly rejects Azerbaijani demands for such a corridor and says it can only agree to conventional transport links between Armenia and Azerbaijan. It has specifically made clear that Azerbaijani citizens and cargo passing through Syunik Province cannot be exempt from Armenian border controls.

Pashinyan and Aliyev openly argued about the matter during a Eurasian Economic Union summit in Moscow on May 25. Nevertheless, the deputy prime ministers of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Russia reportedly made major progress on practical modalities of a rail linkup between Nakhichevan and the rest of Azerbaijan during a subsequent meeting held in the Russian capital.

Russia’s Deputy Prime Minister Alexei Overchuk met with Pashinyan and his Armenian counterpart, Mher Grigorian, in Yerevan on Wednesday for further discussions on the thorny issue. An Armenian government statement said they focused on the restoration of railroad linkup and “border and customs controls based on the sovereignty and equal jurisdiction of the parties,” but it did not elaborate.

https://financialtribune.com/articles/domestic-economy/118615/erdogan-criticizes-iran-for-opposing-zangezur-corridor

[Yervant1]

Iran - June 26 2023

Iran opposes any geopolitical change, foreign forces' presence in Caucasus: President Raeisi tells Armenia PM

Monday, 26 June 2023 4:48 PM

Iranian President Ebrahim Raeisi says Tehran supports the territorial integrity and historical borders of regional countries and firmly opposes any geopolitical change in the region.

"The Islamic Republic of Iran opposes any geopolitical change or the presence of Western military forces in the Caucasus because the presence of foreigners will not only fail to solve any problem, but will also cause new problems," Raeisi said in a Monday phone call with Armenian Prime minister Nikol Pashinyan.

"In line with the neighborhood policy and improvement of relations, the Islamic Republic of Iran attaches great significance and gives priority to increasing interactions and cooperation with the South Caucasus region," he added.

The Iranian president emphasized that Armenia and Azerbaijan should recognize each other's territorial integrity as an important step towards the establishment of peace.

The common border between the two countries should transcend beyond being just a security issue, and must rather be used to boost economic ties, he said.

For his part, the Armenian prime minister briefed the Iranian president on the latest developments regarding his country's peace talks with Azerbaijan in which they would agree on borders, settle differences over the enclave, and unfreeze relations.

His remarks came against a backdrop of decades of tensions between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region on the border between the two countries.

Armenia, Azerbaijan foreign ministers hold first bilateral talks since 2020

Armenia and Azerbaijan’s top diplomats hold their first talks since the 2020 war over the Nagorno-Karabakh region.

Karabakh is internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan, but has a primarily Armenian population that has resisted Azerbaijani rule since a separatist war there ended in 1994.

In 2020, the second Karabakh war broke out, killing more than 6,500 people on both sides during a six-week conflict. The war ended with a Russian-brokered deal that saw Yerevan cede swathes of the Azerbaijani territory that it had been holding for several decades.

https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2023/06/26/705984/Iran-Armenia-Raeisi-Nikol-Pashinyan-Caucasus-geopolitical-change-territorial-integrity-

[Yervant1]

TEHRAN TIMES

Iran - July 3 2023

Iran, Armenia stress importance of North-South corridor

TEHRAN - Armenian President Vahagn Khachaturyan met on Monday with Iranian Ambassador Abbas Badakhshan Zohouri in conjunction with the completion of his diplomatic mission in Yerevan.

Khachaturyan commended Zohouri for his contributions to the advancement of Armenia-Iran ties during his diplomatic career.

The relevance of the North-South Corridor’s construction and its significance for the regional nations were also emphasized by both parties.

Khachaturyan said, “I wish to extend special gratitude for your work and your personal efforts in the development of relations between our two countries. It so happened that in the period of your service, you were in Armenia during one of the most challenging periods of our newly independent history, and we sensed the support of both you and the Islamic Republic of Iran.”

He added, “You also understand what support means for those countries that need help and support at such time.”

Armanian also wished the ambassador success in his diplomatic service and said, “I am confident that in the course of your future activities you will continue to do your best to promote the development of relations between our two countries."

Ambassador Zohouri thanked Khachaturyan for the reception and said, “The relations between Iran and Armenia have a deep-rooted history and, certainly, we have achieved a high level in all fields at present. The work done as well as the bilateral cooperation is set at a very high level. I am hopeful that in the future we will witness further development of these relations.”

During the meeting, the parties discussed a wide variety of issues relating to the ongoing development of multi-level cooperation.

The topics included the potential for increasing commercial, economic, political, and cultural collaboration as well cooperation in areas of shared interest.

https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/486449/Iran-Armenia-stress-importance-of-North-South-corridor

[Yervant1]

Armenpress.am

Iran expresses support to Armenia-Azerbaijan peace talks

13:37, 24 July 2023

YEREVAN, JULY 24, ARMENPRESS. Iran supports the new round of peace talks between Armenia and Azerbaijan, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Nasser Kanaani has said.

Kanaani's comments come as Armenian FM Ararat Mirzoyan is visiting Iran.

The spokesperson for the Iranian foreign ministry expressed Tehran’s readiness to contribute to the efforts for establishing sustainable peace in the Caucasus.

He described South Caucasus to be a “significant” matter for Iran.

 

 

https://armenpress.am/eng/news/1116039.html?fbclid=IwAR2868v7D0m4n2feT8NDAK-ZenXE77v6QzL-QNGT_yf_Znvue0zIHatrosY

[Yervant1]

IRAN FRONT PAGE

July 24 2023

President Raisi: Iran hopes Armenia-Azerbaijan negotiations will strengthen peace in region

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi emphasized the necessity of solving regional issues by the countries of the region. He stated that Iran, by supporting the peace talks between Armenia and Azerbaijan, hopes that these negotiations will establish and strengthen peace, security and stability in the region as much as possible.

He made the remarks in a meeting with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan in Tehran on Monday,

The president stressed that the Islamic Republic of Iran does not accept any geopolitical changes and shifting the borders of the countries in the region, adding, “Iran supports the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all the countries in the region.”

He emphasized the importance of improving the level of relations between the two countries as much as possible and said, “The Islamic Republic of Iran does not see any obstacle to the development of relations with Armenia”.

Mirzoyan appreciated Iran’s positions regarding the developments in the Caucasus region, stating,, “Armenia will never become a platform for anti-Iranian actions and always emphasises on the development of regional security and peace”.

He considered relations with the Islamic Republic of Iran to be very important for his country and emphasised on increasing diplomatic relations between the two countries and strengthening and deepening the relations between Tehran and Yerevan.

https://ifpnews.com/iran-president-armenia-azerbaijan-negotiations-peace-region/

[Yervant1]

Iran - July 24 2023

Iran Stresses Survival of Land Route with Armenia

• July, 24, 2023 - 17:15
• Politics news

TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iran has been given assurances by the Republic of Azerbaijan that Baku would not be seeking to block the route connecting Iran to Armenia, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian said.

Speaking at a joint press conference with his Armenian counterpart Ararat Mirzoyan, held in Tehran on Monday, Amirabdollahian said Tehran and Yerevan emphasize the importance of the transit routes between the two neighbors.

He noted that Azeri President Ilham Aliyev has given an assurance that the Republic of Azerbaijan is not after the closure of the historic route between Iran and Armenia.

Highlighting the significance of relations with Armenia and Iran’s age-old and deep-rooted relations with the South Caucasian nations, Amirabdollahian said Iran welcomes progress in the peace talks between Yerevan and Baku and has actively focused on the course of regional dialogue and peace.

“The Caucasus must not turn into a field of conflict among countries,” he stressed, warning that a series of foreign actors are pursuing delineation and abuse of the region.

Amirabdollahian also pointed to the negotiations on the expansion of relations with Armenia and the implementation of joint projects, saying efforts are underway to increase the value of trade exchanges to $1 billion in the first stage and then to $3 billion.

He further noted that Iran and Armenia have agreed to continue their partnership on bartering gas for electricity, construct the third line of power transfer, and broaden scientific and technological cooperation.

For his part, Mirzoyan highlighted the importance that Armenia attaches to its historic ties with Iran, which he said will remain a friend of his country forever.

Emphasizing the significance of the completion of the North-South Corridor, promotion of economic cooperation between Yerevan and Tehran, and raising the value of trade exchanges to $3 billion, the Armenian foreign minister said, “Armenia and Iran’s engagement within the framework of trilateral relations constitutes an extraordinary basis for cooperation.”

He further highlighted the significance of ensuring stability in the South Caucasus region under the Almaty Declaration, calling for the establishment of a sustainable mechanism for dialogue.

Taking a swipe at the Republic of Azerbaijan for adopting “the policy of ethnic cleansing”, Mirzoyan said the Baku government has stopped the delivery of foodstuffs to the Nagorno-Karabakh region since June 15. “Today, we are witnessing what we had warned of seven months ago.”

He lauded Iran’s stances in support of Armenia’s territorial integrity, saying the Armenian political leaders are resolved to broaden ties with the neighbors on the basis of mutual interests.

https://www.tasnimnews.com/en/news/2023/07/24/2930924/iran-stresses-survival-of-land-route-with-armenia

[Yervant1]

The Cradle

July 25 2023

Iran rejects foreign interference in Azeri-Armenian conflict

Armenia seeks further development of relations and cooperation with Iran, as opposed to Azerbaijan, who has benefited greatly from a strategic partnership with Israel

News DeskJUL 25, 2023

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi reiterated his country's stance on the status of the South Caucasus on 24 June, underlining Tehran's opposition to military escalation and geopolitical changes influenced by western interference in the region.
In a meeting with Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan, attended by his Iranian counterpart Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, the president stressed that the region's issues should be solved exclusively by regional countries.
"Any foreign intervention will only complicate issues. The Islamic Republic of Iran supports the peace talks between Armenia and Azerbaijan and hopes that these negotiations will help establish and strengthen peace and security in the region as much as possible," he added.
"Iran supports the right of sovereignty and territorial integrity of all regional countries," Raisi underscored.
Mirzoyan presented his country's stance on the region and relationship with Iran: "Armenia will never be used as a platform for any measures targeting Iran, and has always supported the development of regional security and efforts toward the end of the dispute"
He added that Yerevan attaches great significance to the expansion of ties with Tehran and stressed the need to boost mutual diplomatic relations.
For his part, the Iranian FM remarked on the matter of peace in the region: "We believe that efforts toward peace, security, and stability in the region can serve the common interests of the South Caucasus countries."

Amir-Abdollahian added that foreign interference in the region would only turn it into yet another proxy battlefield for world powers seeking their own interests, making the achievement of peace near impossible.

He warned of certain plots to exploit the conflict in the Caucasus, and said Iran backs the three plus three format cooperation mechanism and is ready to host it in the presence of Armenia and Azerbaijan.

The three plus three format cooperation mechanism features the three South Caucasus countries of Armenia, Georgia, and Azerbaijan plus Russia, Turkey, and Iran.

Following a hiatus lasting several months, peace talks aimed at resolving the Azeri-Armenian confict resumed in May, with intensive meetings held in Brussels, Chisinau, Moscow, and Washington. The meetings' delineations suggest a favorable possibility of normalization between the two conflicting nations.

The conflict entered its current stalemate following a resurgence of combat in 2022, as deadly clashes erupted between Yerevan and Baku.

On March 6, an investigation by Haaretz detailed the strategic relationship between Israel and Azerbaijan. In exchange for billions of dollars in military support, Azerbaijan would trade oil with Israel and allow for the Mossad to establish a presence in Azeri lands bordering Iran.

The investigation cites publicly available aviation data and highlights that over the last seven years, “92 cargo flights flown by Azerbaijani Silk Way Airlines have landed at the Ovda airbase, the only airfield in Israel through which explosives may be flown into and out of the country.”

The investigation also cites Israel's direct involvement in supplying weapons meant for the Azeri war effort in the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war, which left thousands of civilians dead, wounded, and displaced.

The now over 30-year-old conflict disputing the Nagorno-Karabakh region began following the collapse of the Soviet Union, due to the region being home to thousands of Armenians that did not accept the international recognition of the region as belonging to Azerbaijan.

https://new.thecradle.co/articles/iran-rejects-foreign-interference-in-azeri-armenian-conflict