Поставка Францией Армении военной техники, провокационное заявление посла Ирана...

Bakı/13.11.23/Turan: the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry has expressed strong condemnation of France's provision of multi-purpose armored vehicles branded "ACMAT Bastion" and various military equipment to Armenia. The head of the Ministry's press service, Ayhan Hajizade, asserted that this military aid from France to Armenia would bolster Yerevan's military capabilities and its ongoing aggressive policies and rhetoric.

On November 12, Armenia began receiving this military assistance from France, with the first shipment already delivered to Armenian territory via Georgia, as reported by Russian media.

In addition to the criticism of France's actions, Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry spokesperson Ayhan Hajizade also addressed the provocative and unsubstantiated remarks made by Iranian Ambassador to Armenia, Mehdi Subhani, on November 10. Hajizade strongly condemned Subhani's provocative statements, which were expressed during an interview on the Armenian platform "CivilNet." These comments came after Iranian President Ibrahim Raisi, during a meeting with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, emphasized the importance of maintaining good relations between Iran and Azerbaijan, rejecting attempts by other states to disrupt these ties. Subhani, however, contradicted President Raisi's stance in his interview, stating that the rights of the people of Nagorno-Karabakh must be respected, and they should have the right to determine their own future.

It's worth noting that the Iranian ambassador to Azerbaijan had previously issued threats against Israel on his social media account, which included references to Azerbaijan.

Political commentator Nasimi Mammadli offered insights into these developments on the program "Difficult Question." Mammadli suggested that France's actions may inadvertently contribute to the likelihood of renewed conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia, despite potentially different intentions. He speculated that France might have an interest in maintaining instability in the South Caucasus region as a means of coercing Azerbaijan into engaging in negotiations.

Regarding Azerbaijani-Iranian relations, Mammadli highlighted their inherent complexities, noting that the strategic objectives of these neighboring states are fundamentally divergent. He emphasized that Iran perceives Azerbaijan's very existence as an existential threat, further underscoring the challenges in their relationship.