Russia Today’s Provocation or Iranian Defense Minister’s Lack of Awareness?

Iranian Defense Minister Hussein Dehgan gave an interview to the Russian TV channel Russia Today, which announced the presence of an Israeli spy network, which acts against Iran, in Azerbaijan.

The statement was made after the provocative question of the TV channel about the alleged anti-Iran statement of the Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu made during his recent visit to Baku.

 “We have informed our friends in Azerbaijan that providing Israel’s access to the region will not be to their advantage. Iran will not tolerate this. But it is their decision. It is made in order to achieve their goals and ensure their interests. And we cannot oppose this. About two years ago, an Israeli drone spy invaded our air space from Azerbaijan. We sent them a note of protest and indicated that Israel has an intelligence unit in Azerbaijan. At that time, it was difficult for the Azerbaijani President to agree with this. But a year later, when I met and talked with him, it became clear that in Azerbaijan there is an Israeli spy unit,” Dehgan said.

“I think our friends in Azerbaijan should understand that many forces in the region and beyond are not willing to see establishment of strategic relations between Azerbaijan and Iran, and seek to prevent it. Of course, the Azerbaijani President wants to develop relations with us. However, there are other forces that interfere and exert some influence on the situation,” the Iranian minister concluded.

Note that in the period of stay in Baku Netanyahu made no anti-Iranian statements, and no agreements were signed on military cooperation between Azerbaijan and Israel.

For what purpose the Russian TV channel resorted to such a provocation is not difficult to guess. Moscow does not want Israel to strengthen in the arms market of Azerbaijan, and Tehran is ready to use every opportunity to express its dissatisfaction with the cooperation of Baku and Tel Aviv. -02D-