TEHRAN (TASS): The controversial issues that have arisen between Az-erbaijan and Iran should be resolved without the intervention of foreign forces. This was stated on Sunday by the spiritual leader and leader of the Islamic Republic, Ali Khamenei.
“The recent situation in the north-west of the country should be resolved without the intervention and military presence of foreign forces in the region,” ISNA quoted him as saying .
“The armies of the peoples of the region can control it themselves, and we will not allow other forces to interfere,” he added.
Khamenei’s statement sounded against the backdrop of a number of critical statements from Azerbaijan and Iran towards each other and the start of military exercises of the Iranian Armed Forces near the Azerbaijani border.
On Tuesday, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Said Khatibzade said that Iran’s military maneuvers near the border with Azerbaijan are related to the issue of the country’s sovereignty.
The day before, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian stated that “during the liberation of Karabakh, a number of terrorist movements penetrated the region and Israel is also trying to take advantage of this tension.” According to the diplomat, “during the clashes in Karabakh, Iran at the political level expressed its fears about the presence of Israel [on the territory of Azerbaijan].” Iran will not tolerate the presence of Israeli forces near its borders, he added.
On Monday, Azerbaijani President Aliyev said in an interview with Anadolu that Azerbaijan has taken measures to prevent the entry of Iranian trucks into Nago-rno-Karabakh, since Baku considers these actions illegal.
According to leader of the Islamic Republic, Ali Khamenei, from August 11 to September 11, about 60 trucks from Iran entered the territory of K-arabakh and the Azerbaijani side has repeatedly expres-sed dissatisfaction with Tehran about this.
In addition, he expressed concern about the conduct of military maneuvers by Iran on the border with Azerbaijan.
At the end of September, the media reported on the transfer of Iranian servicemen and military equipment to the Azerbaijani border for military exercises.
Iranian Ambassador to Baku Abbas Mousavi noted that the exercises were planned in advance and assured that the actions of the Iranian Armed Forces do not threaten Azerbaijan.
