Iran Will Not Remain Neutral and Will Protect Its Interests: Hossein Salami Addresses Azerbaijan and Armenia

The ground forces of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps have conducted helicopter and parachute flights in the northwestern border regions of Iran during the third day of military exercises. According to tasnimnews.com, the operations were carried out using Mil Mi-17 helicopters. Participants in the exercises held near the border with Azerbaijan also seized routes and heights controlled by a hypothetical adversary.

During the military drills, which began on Monday, the forces of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps tested the installation of pontoon bridges over rivers for the movement of troops and vehicles for the first time.

Against the backdrop of the exercises, the commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Major General Hossein Salami, reminded neighboring states that Iran remains committed to a policy of friendship and brotherhood as long as there are no conspiracies against it from adversaries. "Any country or force that cooperates correctly with us is our brother. We urge our neighbors to resolve their issues through cooperation and non-military approaches. We have interests in this region, so if an incident occurs in any corner of the region and threatens our interests, we will not remain neutral and will defend our interests," he stated.

It is noteworthy that Iran's Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, speaking about the conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia, emphasized that Iran would not allow the blocking of its route to Armenia. According to the head of Iranian diplomacy, "Iran will not allow the blockage of its route to Armenia, and in order to secure that objective, the Islamic Republic of Iran has also begun military exercises in that region."