Iran’s ambassador to Azerbaijan Mojtaba Demirchilou has outlined Tehran’s carefully calibrated positions on Azerbaijan’s relations with Israel and on major regional connectivity projects in an interview with AnewZ.
The ambassador acknowledged Azerbaijan’s sovereign right to determine its foreign partnerships, including its strategic relationship with Israel.
“Naturally, the sovereignty of the Republic of Azerbaijan allows it to establish relations with any side it chooses and this is its legitimate right,” he said.
At the same time, Demirchilou stressed that this principle is inseparable from Iran’s expectation that Azerbaijani territory will not be used in ways that could threaten Iranian security.
“As the highest officials of the Republic of Azerbaijan have stated, they will not allow their territory to be used against Iran. Naturally, we expect this to be the case,” he added.
The ambassador also expressed concern over what he described as attempts by Israeli officials to use visits to Baku as a platform for statements hostile to Iran, reflecting Tehran’s sensitivity not only to military realities but also to diplomatic signalling.
The remarks reveal Iran’s dual-track approach: formally respecting Azerbaijan’s sovereignty while drawing clear political and security red lines around Israel’s regional role.
A similar conditional logic shaped Demirchilou’s comments on regional transportation initiatives, including the TRIPP/Zangazur Corridor.
He said Iran supports projects that enhance economic cooperation, regional connectivity and development.
“Any plan in the field of transportation aims to preserve peace and stability in the region and contribute to economic development, we naturally support it,” he said.
However, Demirchilou repeatedly warned that Iran would oppose any initiative driven by external geopolitical objectives or directed against Iranian interests.
“If there is a plan that contains specific geopolitical objectives and is directed against Iran, then naturally Iran cannot tolerate such a matter,” he said.
When pressed for a clear endorsement of the TRIPP initiative itself, the ambassador reiterated the same formulation without offering a direct yes-or-no answer.
“Regardless of the name, if any plan in the field of transportation aims to preserve peace and stability in the region and contribute to economic development, we naturally support it,” he said.
The repeated ambiguity suggests Tehran’s intent to avoid openly opposing regional connectivity while retaining flexibility to challenge projects it views as strategically threatening.
The interview highlights an Iranian strategy defined less by outright opposition and more by careful qualification.
Tehran signals openness to cooperation and economic integration, but consistently frames its support as conditional, contingent on the absence of geopolitical motives.
For Azerbaijan, the remarks underline the diplomatic balancing act required to advance regional connectivity and strategic partnerships while managing the sensitivities of a neighbouring power whose acceptance remains cautious and closely guarded.
Shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remains limited on Thursday, with no increase in vessel crossings as U.S.-Iran talks to res...
Kazakhstan will vote on 23 August in its first parliamentary election under the new Constitution, choosing 145 members of the new Kurultai under a ...
Syria says it assured Israel that Türkiye had no plans to establish a military presence at the Abu al-Duhur airbase before Israeli forces stru...
The collective-defence agreement between Türkiye, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan signals that regional powers no longer want to rely solely on external security guarantees. Whether it becomes a stabilising deterrent or another axis of rivalry remains unresolved.
Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has slowed, according to the latest data, as uncertainty over the waterway’s reopening kept most shipowners away. Six commodity vessels crossed the strait on Tuesday, down from nine the day before and below the 10-day daily average of 11.
Shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remains limited on Thursday, with no increase in vessel crossings as U.S.-Iran talks to resolve the conflict remained stalled. Nine commodity vessels transited the key waterway on Wednesday, unchanged from the previous day, according to Kpler data.
Iran has said the Strait of Hormuz will remain closed until the U.S. fulfils the terms of an interim deal, including lifting the maritime blockade and sanctions and releasing Iran’s frozen assets.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 19th of August, covering the latest developments.
Syria says it assured Israel that Türkiye had no plans to establish a military presence at the Abu al-Duhur airbase before Israeli forces struck the site on Tuesday.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has issued his strongest warning yet over Türkiye's growing military role in Syria, saying Israel will not accept Turkish forces expanding their presence further south.
Azerbaijan’s support for Ukraine could provide a model for neighbouring countries seeking to strengthen their sovereignty, the director of development at an organisation supporting Ukraine’s armed forces has told AnewZ.
Two days inside Uzbekistan’s newsrooms, hospitals, factories and technology hubs reveal a country eager to show how it is changing — while that transformation is still under way.
Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani arrived in Islamabad on Wednesday for a two-day visit, marking the first trip by Syria’s top diplomat to Pakistan in 19 years as Damascus seeks to deepen ties with the country.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment