Azerbaijan–Iran Relations

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Azerbaijan

Israel orders off-duty troops to leave Georgia and Azerbaijan amidst Iran tensions

by Yousef Bardouka

•2 min read

The Israeli Defence Forces have reportedly ordered off-duty personnel to leave Georgia and Azerbaijan, amidst fears of an attack on Israeli targets by Iran. Israeli state-owned TV station Kan 11 reported that the order came on Monday, amid concerns that Iran might strike at Israeli targets either within Israel or in countries near Iran. The Times of Israel reported that Israeli servicemembers ‘could presumably be in either country on vacation or to visit family’. The Israeli Embassy in Geo

Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan and Iran hold military drills amidst apparent détente

by Aytan Farhadova

•2 min read

Azerbaijan and Iran have held joint military exercises in what appears to be a warming of relations between the two countries. The drills took place in the Azerbaijani exclave of Nakhchivan on Wednesday. The Azerbaijani Defence Ministry announced that the two countries would conduct ‘tactical exercises’ to ‘protect strategic facilities and communication lines from possible sabotage’ a day earlier. Iran and Azerbaijan have long maintained strained relations. Iran has objected to Azerbaijan’s

Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan warns against travel to Iran

by Ismi Aghayev

•2 min read

Azerbaijan’s Foreign Ministry has warned its citizens against travelling to Iran in the latest escalation of tensions between the two countries. On 3 June, the Ministry ‘strongly advised’ against travel to Iran, stating that this was in light of a ‘terrorist’ attack against Azerbaijan’s embassy in Iran in January, and subsequent limited diplomatic representation in the country after the embassy was closed. The announcement came shortly after an Azerbaijani citizen who had been missing for

Mehriban and Ilham Aliyev at the mosque in Baku.

Azerbaijan

Opinion | First they came for the Muslims, and we did not speak out…

by Samad Shikhi

•7 min read

The mass arrest of religious Muslims in Azerbaijan is part of a blatant state campaign to control religion and demonise Iran. As such, the deafening silence among Azerbaijani activists and the international community is nothing short of a disgrace. On 7 April, I attended the trial of Nijat Aliyev, a member of the Muslim Union Movement. Except for a handful of social activists, I could see no one else in the courtroom except for Nijat’s relatives — the sight of whom hurt my heart. While we

Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan expels Iranian diplomats

by Ismi Aghayev

•1 min read

Four employees of Iran’s embassy in Azerbaijan have left the country after being declared persona non-grata and given 48 hours to leave. Azerbaijan’s Foreign Ministry announced on Thursday that Iran’s Ambassador to Azerbaijan, Seyyed Abbas Mousavi, had been summoned to the ministry and informed of the measure. It comes at a time of heightened tensions between the two countries. [Read on OC Media: Azerbaijan conducts mass arrests over ‘Iran-backed coup attempt’] The announcement noted t

Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan conducts mass arrests over ‘Iran-backed coup attempt’

by Ismi Aghayev

•3 min read

Azerbaijani authorities have conducted mass arrests of people who they accuse of planning to take part in a coup on behalf of Iran to establish a religious state in the country. On Thursday, the Interior Ministry, State Security Service, and General Prosecutor’s Office released a joint statement about the ongoing operation. The roundup of Shia people in the country has stepped up since the shooting of MP Fazil Mustafa last Tuesday, with the number of people detained possibly in the hundreds.

The Lankaran Mosque. Photo: Ismi Aghayev/OC Media.

Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan ‘arrests 32 Shia figures’ as tensions flare with Iran

by Ismi Aghayev

•2 min read

Azerbaijani authorities have reportedly arrested 32 Shia men as tensions with neighbouring Iran continue to mount. According to identical articles published across multiple pro-government media outlets on Monday, the men had planned to overthrow the government and create a religious state in Azerbaijan The arrests came as tensions continued to flare between Azerbaijan and Iran. Periods of increased tension have frequently preceded crackdown on Shia religious figures in the country. Accordi