Baku Disagrees with Iran's Claims on Israeli Forces Presence at Azerbaijan-Iran Border: Aliyev

Baku disagrees with Tehran's statements regarding the presence of Israeli forces near the Azerbaijan-Iran border and is demanding evidence. This information was reported by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, as cited by the press service of the Azerbaijani presidential administration.

Earlier, Iran's Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian stated that the Iranian authorities are concerned about Israel's attempts to exploit the situation around Nagorno-Karabakh and approach Iran's borders under this pretext.

“We deny these accusations and demand evidence… unfortunately, Iranian officials have started to make unfounded allegations against us. Supposedly, Azerbaijan has brought Israel into these regions. Let them open their eyes and see. Where have they seen Israel? Are there any proofs? No. If there is no evidence, everyone should be held accountable for what they say. We cannot allow anyone to slander us,” Aliyev's press service quoted him as saying.

Previously, Iranian armed forces conducted military exercises near the border with Azerbaijan in the country's northwest. Aliyev noted that justifiable questions have arisen among the Azerbaijani public as to why Iran did not conduct military exercises along the Azerbaijani border in the past when several areas of Nagorno-Karabakh were under the control of the Armenian Armed Forces.

The Iranian authorities suspect that Azerbaijan has a close military cooperation with Israel, Tehran's regional adversary. Colonel Hossein Puresmaeil stated that “such cooperation with Israel does not serve Baku's interests and threatens its existence.”