Tehran – A considerable amount of attention has been drawn to its potential role in the regime’s invasion of the Republic of Azerbaijan and Iran through the war between Iran and the Iranian war, and for days after the halt of hostilities.
Residents of Gilan and Mazandaran along the Caspian Sea reported hearing what sounded like drones and fighter jets during Israeli attacks. One Eastern Gilan resident told the Tehran Times that the city of Rasht was hit shortly after hearing such noise.
These two provinces are close to Azerbaijan, which shares the border with the Caspian Sea. Some residents of Aldabil, which has land land from the Caucasian state, reported seeing drones flying from behind the mountains separating the two countries.
All of these accounts and reports came from civilians. Iranian military and its politicians have not yet officially confirmed these allegations.
When asked about the possibility of Azerbaijan’s involvement, Esmael Bakaei, a spokesman for Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said that all of Iran’s neighbors have assured Tehran that Israel will not allow Israel to use its territory against Iran. “All these countries have declared that such incidents have not happened and that they will not happen in the future,” he added. Baqaei also showed that Iran’s military power and intelligence agency are investigating the issue independently.
During a phone conversation last week, Iranian President Maud Pezeshkian asked his Azeri counterpart to begin his own investigation. Pezeshkian said he was concerned about reports suggesting that some drones and microaires could have entered Iranian airspace through Azerbaijan’s territory. Ilham Aliyev refused to report, emphasizing that his government has full control of the airspace and never allows Iran to use it.
Azerbaijan and Israel have cultivated strong partnerships rooted in energy cooperation and military dealings. Baku is Israel’s leading oil supplier, accounting for around 40% of crude oil imports (via the Baku Tbilisi Seihan Pipeline). Israel is Azerbaijan’s top Arms supplier, offering drones, missile systems and intelligence technology.
Azeri’s media reflects the government’s position and has not addressed recent allegations of Azerbaijan’s involvement in the war. However, many of them have been filled with anti-Iranian sentiment in recent weeks, calling Iran the “enemy” of Azerbaijan and calling the leader of the Islamic revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei Disperi. A news website called Caliber, which is perceived as having connections with Aliyev herself, said its leader “fears” the very existence of Azerbaijan. It was also called Medi Sobani, the Armenian ambassador to Iran, and was a liar and called for a fall in the Islamic Republic.
Such reports and articles have long angered the Iranian masses who believe Baku is constantly crossing the red line. Iranian officials have largely sought to calm the water and defend the expansion of ties with Azerbaijan.