The reason for the 'green light'to the state agency of Iran...

In a notable development, Iran's state news agency, IRNA, has received approval to open its bureau in Azerbaijan. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev expressed optimism about the potential positive impact of "IRNA Azerbaijan" on strengthening relations between the two neighboring countries. He emphasized the responsibility of media in fostering better ties and urged the agency to inform its audience in Iran about the realities in Azerbaijan, particularly the restoration process of Karabakh and Eastern Zangazur.

The decision to allow IRNA to operate in Azerbaijan is noteworthy given that certain Western news agencies have faced restrictions in the country. However, over the past few years, Azerbaijani and Iranian officials have occasionally made mutual claims against each other's nations. Some Azerbaijani officials have stressed the importance of reaching inter-state agreements to enable foreign media to operate in their respective countries.

While representatives from IRNA and Azerbaijani officials were not available for separate comments, some local voices expressed support for improved relations with Iran. Agil Abbas, a member of the Azerbaijani parliament and journalist, appreciated the decision to allow IRNA's presence and pointed out that both Russia and Georgia have correspondent posts in Azerbaijan.

Director of the Turan News Agency Mehman Aliyev, in an interview with Radio Azadlig, noted,Mehman Aliyev, the Director of "Turan" News Agency, in an interview with Radio Azadlig, noted that both "IRNA" and "AZERTAC" operate as state agencies based on an interstate agreement. He observed that such agencies tend to engage in mutual propaganda as a characteristic of authoritarian systems. In contrast, many foreign media agencies, like "Reuters," prefer different models of operation and focus on the free market. However, since Azerbaijan is not fully integrated into the world market and lacks a free currency exchange system, some major foreign media agencies may not find it economically viable to establish bureaus in the country. As a result, most foreign media represented in Azerbaijan are state-sponsored and serve state interests.