Iran Holding military exercises in the border areas at the same time the tensions between Iran and Azerbaijan is at all time high. The recent exercise of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards in the border areas of Iran and the Republic of Azerbaijan provoked the reaction of the President of that country.
In the midst of tensions between Tehran and Baku, the Army of the Islamic Republic of Iran announced the holding an military exercise called “Khyber Conquerors” in the northwestern region of Iran near the border with the Republic of Azerbaijan.
Tensions between the Republic of Azerbaijan and Iran have risen in recent weeks. The story began with a dispute between the two countries over a major transit route between Iran and neighboring Armenia and the suspension of passing through of Iranian trucks via Azerbaijan. Reports of the transfer of Iranian troops and equipment to the border region with the Republic of Azerbaijan and the holding of IRGC ground exercises were later published, and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev strongly criticized Iran’s decision to hold the exercise.
The commander of the Army of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Kiomars Heydari, announced on Thursday, October 29, that the “Khyber Conquerors” exercise with the presence of the Army’s armored units, artillery, UAVs and jungle and with the support of helicopter fire was held in the northern region on Friday. With the aim of improving combat readiness. Heidari added that the exercises in this area are held according to the schedule.
In an interview with the Turkish state news agency Anatoly, published on 26th, the President of Azerbaijan described the Iranian military exercises near the border between the two countries as “very surprising” at the back drop of the recent tensions. The country is their “sovereignty”, but “why now and why near our border?”
A day later, Saeed Khatibzadeh, a spokesman for Iran’s foreign ministry, responded to Aliyev’s remarks, calling his remarks “mutually surprising” and saying that the exercise in Iran’s northwestern border areas was “a matter of governance and for calm.” “And the stability of the whole region is being achieved.” He added that the Islamic Republic of Iran will not tolerate the presence of Israel near its borders and will take any action it deems necessary for its national security.
According to Sepah News, Mohammad Pakpour, Commander of the Land Forces of the Revolutionary Guards, in response to the remarks of the President of Azerbaijan, called his remarks “unrealistic”, “provocative” and “influenced by third countries” and added: “Neighboring governments are better than “Everyone else knows the reasons for holding Iranian exercises.” “We expect the territory of our neighbors not to be a breeding ground for other country’s actions,” he said, referring directly to Israel.
Hassan Ameli, the friday Imam of Ardabil, also defended the decision of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps to hold this exercise on the border with Azerbaijan during the Friday prayer sermons in that city. “It conducts maneuvers and exercises for itself not to threaten anyone.”
Azerbaijan has good relations with Israel, and this is a matter of concern for the officials of the Islamic Republic of Iran, as a neighbor of Azerbaijan and an enemy of Israel. Many believe that Azerbaijan gained military superiority in the war with Armenia with the help of drones and weapons provided by Israel.
