TEHRAN – Iran and Azerbaijan have launched a joint military exercise called “ARAS 2025” in the recently released region of Karabakh, with the aim of strengthening border security and strengthening joint preparedness against potential threats.
The drills, which will be held from May 18th to 21st, will include Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard (IRGC) ground forces and Azerbaijani military special forces.
Brigadier General Vali Madani, assistant commander and training commander for the operation of Iran’s IRGC ground forces, described the exercise as “an important step in strengthening the security of shared boundaries and countering the potential threat.”
A select IRGC special forces battalion with a senior military delegation travelled to Azerbaijan early today via the Bile Savar Land border in Adibil province of Iran to participate in the operation.
Following the official welcome ceremony, senior military officials from both countries convened to review the joint drill goals, scenarios, operational zones and polyphase structures.
General Madani highlighted the strategic values of the joint exercise and highlighted the preparation of Iranian forces to engage in regional cooperation to address border security concerns.
Iran’s high-ranking military delegation has reiterated its commitment to future joint exercises aimed at responding to the threats of emerging borders.
This latest maneuvering follows a similar joint exercise held last November when the Azerbaijani Special Forces and the elite IRGC battalion conducted a drill in the Aslandouz region of Iran in Adevil province. The four-day drill codenamed “ARAS Joint Exercises” began on November 24th and aimed to strengthen military capabilities in line with an agreement held between the two sides to promote mutual benefits.
In March, Armenia and Azerbaijan agreed to texts on the peace agreement to end a nearly 40-year conflict between the South Caucasian countries, and Yerevan agreed to abandon the claims to Karabakh.
The long-standing region of Karabakh was at the heart of two expensive wars between Armenia and Azerbaijan in 2020 and in the 1990s. The region has always been internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan, and its forces recaptured it in a 24-hour attack.