Israeli Forces at the Border with Azerbaijan, According to Iran's Supreme Leader

“The countries of our region must not allow foreign armies to be present or interfere in their affairs. Relying on foreign powers for security is an illusion. Those who hold this illusion will soon face a setback, as direct or indirect interference from other countries will turn into disaster,” stated Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei during a speech to military academy graduates, noting that the country will respond strongly to the presence of foreign forces in the region, reported IRNA.

He also added that the armies of Iran's neighbors are capable of ensuring their own security in the region, characterizing the presence of foreign forces as a “source of discord.” Additionally, the head of Iran's Border Guard, General Ahmad Ali Goudarzi, announced that Israelis are located along the borders with Azerbaijan, though their exact numbers are unknown, according to Mehr.

“The Israelis know that Iran's deterrent power is such that they do not possess operational forces at our borders. They can only incite countries in the region to change their borders, prohibit the entry of cargo trucks, and increase the fees charged for entry,” the Iranian general stated, adding that Israelis are most active in Azerbaijan among all regional countries.