Iran`s Armed Forces exercises on Azerbaijani-Iranian border continue  to "irritate Azerbaijan"

ArmInfo.Iranian Armed Forces exercises on Azerbaijani- Iranian border continue to "irritate Azerbaijan".

According to media reports, with reference to Commander of Islamic  Republic of Iran Army's Ground Forces, General Kioumars Heydari, the  Ground Forces of the Iranian Armed Forces will begin large-scale  exercises in the northwestern region of the country on October 1.

The exercises will use howitzers, drones, helicopters and armored  vehicles of the Iranian Armed Forces.

The northwestern region of Iran covers the provinces of Ardabil, East  Azerbaijan, West Azerbaijan and Zanjan.

It is worth noting that in recent days, videos with shots of the  accumulation of numerous military equipment of Iran near the borders  of Azerbaijan have been posted on the World Wide Web.

Iran's intention to conduct exercises on the Azerbaijani-Iranian  border caused a mixed reaction in Azerbaijan.

To the extent that Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, in an  interview with Anadolu, called Iran's military exercises unexpected  along the border with Azerbaijan. At the same time, he was outraged  by the fact that the exercises are being conducted by Iran for the  first time in 30 years, and are being held after these territories  came under Azerbaijani control.

The Iranian Foreign Ministry promptly and rather sharply reacted to  this statement. Thus, Iran's Foreign Ministry Spokesman Saeed  Khatibzadeh stressed that conducting exercises in the north-western  border regions is a matter of sovereignty, and is aimed at ensuring  peace and stability in the entire region.  Along with those, he added  that the Islamic Republic will not tolerate the presence of the  Zionist regime on its borders and will take whatever action it deems  necessary to ensure its security.

At the same time, the spokesman said that the way the Azerbaijani  President has expressed the remarks was surprising, as the two  countries have good, respectful relations and enjoy normal paths of  communication at the highest levels. At the same time, Khatibzadeh  recalled that the Islamic Republic of Iran has always rejected any  type of territorial occupation and emphasized the necessity of  respecting territorial integrity of countries and internationally   recognized borders.  Yesterday, the Iranian "Jam-e-Jam newspaper "  published an article in which it answered the claims of Azerbaijani  President Ilham Aliyev against Iran in connection with the exercise.

Thus, the publication of the newspaper, the translation of which was  provided by the Armenian Embassy in Iran, in particular says: "In  response to the accusation made against Iran by Azerbaijani President  Ilham Aliyev in an interview with the Turkish Anadolu news agency  about "why military exercises were not conducted in the northern  regions of Iran for 30 years, when the territories around Karabakh  were under Armenian rule, "we would like to note: 

-Armenia, unlike Baku and Ankara, does not cherish empty dreams about  the borders of Iran and does not show such behavior;

-Armenia, unlike Azerbaijan, is not Israel's ally;

-Armenia, unlike Azerbaijan, did not create a network of mercenary  separatists in Atrpatakan (Atropatena); 

Armenia does not intend to oust Iran from the trade routes. "

To note, the exercises became a logical response of Iran to attempts  to control the transit of Iranian cargo transportation through the  territory of Armenia. Weeks earlier, the Azerbaijani military began  to stop and demand customs duties from Iranian drivers on the  Goris-Kapan road in the Sbnik region of Armenia, a 21 km section of  which came under Azerbaijani control. Moreover, two Iranian drivers  were detained by Azerbaijani security forces for allegedly visiting  Stepanakert. Nothing is known about their further fate.