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.
Iran's top joint military command, Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, has said that the Strait of Hormuz is closed to ships again, citing a...
Bolivian President Rodrigo Paz has declared a state of emergency, authorising the military to clear roadblocks that have paralysed the economy for 50 ...
ISIS has claimed responsibility for killing two Syrian soldiers in the northern provine of Aleppo, in a statement on the group's Telegram channel. ...
A 46-year-old Italian tourist has died after a major fire tore through a beachfront hotel in the Dominican Republic, forcing the evacuation of nearly ...
Ukranian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has warned of an impending massive Russian attack on Ukraine. It comes days after Kyiv carried out a major aeri...
Veteran business leader, diplomat and board adviser, Mehmet Öğütçü, reflects on more than four decades of hiring and leadership experience, offering practical advice to graduates and young professionals navigating an increasingly competitive labour market.
Documentary filmmaker Mikael Silkeberg has said that making a film exploring connections between Scandinavia and Azerbaijan helped him better understand his own mixed Nordic identity.
Three flags, one training ground and a clear message: defence cooperation in the South Caucasus remains firmly on track. Elite special operations units from Georgia, Türkiye and Azerbaijan have gathered in Mukhrovani for the latest edition of the Caucasian Eagle military exercise.
France has continued activities that undermine the Azerbaijan-Armenia peace process, including espionage and information campaigns targeting Baku, according to Azerbaijan’s State Commission Against Foreign Interference and Hybrid Threats.
A train driver has been killed and nine people remain in a critical condition in hospital, after two trains collided near Beford in the east of England on Friday. The passenger trains heading to London collided at around 17:15 local time (1615 GMT).
Morocco captain and PSG defender Achraf Hakimi will face trial in France after an appeals court ruled there was enough evidence for the case to proceed.
Paraguay kept their World Cup hopes alive with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Türkiye, but the celebrations were tempered by a costly red card for veteran forward Miguel Almirón.
Israel and Hezbollah have agreed to a ceasefire, a senior U.S. official has said. Hezbollah has released a statement saying Israel must leave southern Lebanon. Israel has said it agrees to the ceasefire, but has said its armed forces won't leave Lebanon and will resume hostilities if attacked.
A magnitude 5.8 earthquake struck southwest of Greece’s island of Crete on Saturday, with no immediate reports of damage.
ISIS has claimed responsibility for killing two Syrian soldiers in the northern provine of Aleppo, in a statement on the group's Telegram channel.
At least seven people were killed and several others injured after two roadside bombs exploded in quick succession in northwest Pakistan on Saturday (20 June), according to local police.
Russia is seeking to expand cooperation with Central Asian countries in the exploration, extraction and processing of rare earth metals, underlining the region's growing importance in the global race for critical raw materials.
Pakistan has emerged as a key intermediary in U.S.-Iran diplomacy after months of shuttle talks, draft revisions and regional coordination involving Gulf states and China. An interim understanding has been reached, but officials warn the most difficult phase of negotiations still lies ahead.
The United States is working with Qatar on a plan that could give Iran access to billions of dollars in frozen funds for humanitarian purchases, The Wall Street Journal reported, citing people familiar with the matter.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment