Tensions spike over Iran military games

Agencies | Tehran

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

Iranian armed forces launching an “unexpected” military exercise at its border with Azerbaijan sparked tensions afresh between the two neighbours over issues including Baku’s relations with the state of Israel.

The exercises took place in open areas in north-western Iran, said state television, which showed tanks, howitzers and helicopters firing at targets on the ground. Iran has long criticised Azerbaijan’s military ties with Israel, which include purchases of Israeli arms.

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev had criticised the Iranian war games in an interview published. “Every country can carry out any military drill on its own territory. It’s their sovereign right.

But why now, and why on our border?” he told Turkish news agency Anadolu. After Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev voiced “surprise” over the planned exercises, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian said that holding military exercises by a state within its territory was part of its national sovereignty, Iranian state media said.

Iranian state media said the exercises involved armoured and artillery units, as well as drones and helicopters. They kicked off near the Poldasht and Jolfa border crossings with Azerbaijan. Tehran has also been wary over nationalists in Turkey and Azerbaijan fanning secessionist tendencies among its Azeri minority.

Referring to an Israeli presence along Iran’s borders, Amirabdollahian told the new Azeri ambassador: “Iran does not tolerate the Zionist regime’s activity against its national security and will take whatever action is necessary,” state media reported Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian said that holding military exercises by a state within its territory was part of its national sovereignty, Iranian state media said.

Iranian state media said the exercises involved armoured and artillery units, as well as drones and helicopters. They kicked off near the Poldasht and Jolfa border crossings with Azerbaijan. Tehran has also been wary over nationalists in Turkey and Azerbaijan fanning secession[1]ist tendencies among its Azeri minority.

Referring to an Israeli presence along Iran’s borders, Amirabdollahian told the new Azeri ambassador: “Iran does not tolerate the Zionist regime’s activity against its national security and will take whatever action is necessary,” state media reported.