Tehran, Baku must safeguard relations against foreign plots
Mohsen Pak-Ayeen
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar has recently accused Iran of exhibiting “violent” treatment of protesters and warning about similar behavior toward other nations. The remarks were made on Monday in Baku in the wake of the recent unrest in Iran which escalated to violence with foreign involvement. Tehran responded by characterizing the statements as an attempt to undermine relations between Iran and Azerbaijan, calling for Baku’s vigilance in this regard. Shortly thereafter, Israeli media reported the thwarting of an attack on Israel’s embassy in Azerbaijan. Mohsen Pak-Ayeen, an expert on Azerbaijani affairs, told Iran Daily that Israel’s presence in Baku is an attempt to shake off international isolation and that the Azerbaijani government is open to criticism for facilitating such an opportunity. He also stressed the need for Tehran and Baku to strive to maintain their friendly relations.
IRAN DAILY: How do you assess Israeli foreign minister’s statements during his meeting with Azerbaijani officials? Does the delivery of these statements in Baku indicate specific strategic goals on the part of the Israeli regime?
PAK-AYEEN: Israel is attempting to break out of its isolation, particularly as [Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu cannot travel to various countries due to the potential for arrest on charges brought by the International Criminal Court in The Hague. Consequently, the Israeli Foreign Minister is often dispatched to several countries to achieve this end. A primary objective of this minister’s tour is to exploit the opportunity to articulate unsound positions, advance baseless claims, and meddle in Iran’s internal affairs. The statements are a clear case of interference in Iran’s internal affairs and are inconsistent with any international norms. The hand of the Israel and the US, particularly the government of [US President Donald] Trump, in directing terrorist groups in Iran to create unrest and chaos is well-documented. American and Israeli officials have both acknowledged this on at least ten occasions over the past two weeks, explicitly stating that Mossad and CIA operatives are among the Iranian terrorists, guiding them.
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