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AZERBAIJAN QUELLS IRANIAN CONCERNS OVER MAJOR ARMS DEAL WITH ISRAEL
Lilit Gevorgyan
Global Insight
February 29, 2012
The Iranian Foreign Ministry summoned Azerbaijani's ambassador,
Javanshir Akhundov, yesterday (28 February) to seek an explanation
from Baku over the news that Azerbaijan has inked a USD1.6-billion
arms deal with Israel. According to Iranian news agencies Akhundov has
confirmed that a large arms sales deal was concluded but also added
that the weapons have been acquired "to liberate occupied Azerbaijani
land" (see27 February 2012: Azerbaijan - Israel:). The Azerbaijani
diplomat's comments are a thinly veiled threat against the mainly
Armenian populated self-declared Nagorno-Karabakh Republic that has
been out of Baku's control since 1988. Baku has repeatedly threatened
to bring back forcibly the region under its control.
Akhundov reportedly assured the Iranian side that Baku "will not
allow the weapons to be used against third nations, in particular the
Islamic Republic of Iran." The Iranian foreign ministry has warned
Baku that it should not allow Israel to use Azerbaijani territory
for launching "terrorist acts" against Iran, an accusation that
Azerbaijan rejects. Earlier, on 22 February, the Azeri National
Security Ministry announced that an unspecified number of individuals
had been arrested on suspicion of planning to carry out "terrorist"
attacks against foreign citizens in Azerbaijan. Allegedly the group
also includes individuals linked with Iranian security services
and had been gathering weapons, explosives, and intelligence. Iran
has denied the Azerbaijani allegations and instead accused Baku for
helping Israeli security services in attacks on Iranian nationals.
Significance:Azerbaijan has been cultivating close commercial ties
with Israel in recent years but Baku has been cautious about revealing
the details of this co-operation, especially with regards to military
trade. This is because of the domestic sensitivities of the largely
Shia Muslim population in Azerbaijan and also the geopolitical
tensions between Israel and Iran particularly over the latter's
alleged pursuit of a nuclear weapons programme. Under the arms supply
deal Azerbaijan is due to receive anti-aircraft and missile defence
systems as well as 60 unmanned aerial vehicles systems. Although the
conclusion of the agreement coincides with a particularly low point
in Azerbaijani-Iranian relations, the new military acquisitions appear
to be part of the Azerbaijani leadership's bid to revamp its army and
prepare it for a possible military solution to the Nagorno Karabakh
conflict. Nonetheless, close co-operation with Iran's foe Israel are
set to further fuel suspicions in Tehran over Baku's position in case
the situation over the nuclear issue escalates in the near future.
Lilit Gevorgyan
Global Insight
February 29, 2012
The Iranian Foreign Ministry summoned Azerbaijani's ambassador,
Javanshir Akhundov, yesterday (28 February) to seek an explanation
from Baku over the news that Azerbaijan has inked a USD1.6-billion
arms deal with Israel. According to Iranian news agencies Akhundov has
confirmed that a large arms sales deal was concluded but also added
that the weapons have been acquired "to liberate occupied Azerbaijani
land" (see27 February 2012: Azerbaijan - Israel:). The Azerbaijani
diplomat's comments are a thinly veiled threat against the mainly
Armenian populated self-declared Nagorno-Karabakh Republic that has
been out of Baku's control since 1988. Baku has repeatedly threatened
to bring back forcibly the region under its control.
Akhundov reportedly assured the Iranian side that Baku "will not
allow the weapons to be used against third nations, in particular the
Islamic Republic of Iran." The Iranian foreign ministry has warned
Baku that it should not allow Israel to use Azerbaijani territory
for launching "terrorist acts" against Iran, an accusation that
Azerbaijan rejects. Earlier, on 22 February, the Azeri National
Security Ministry announced that an unspecified number of individuals
had been arrested on suspicion of planning to carry out "terrorist"
attacks against foreign citizens in Azerbaijan. Allegedly the group
also includes individuals linked with Iranian security services
and had been gathering weapons, explosives, and intelligence. Iran
has denied the Azerbaijani allegations and instead accused Baku for
helping Israeli security services in attacks on Iranian nationals.
Significance:Azerbaijan has been cultivating close commercial ties
with Israel in recent years but Baku has been cautious about revealing
the details of this co-operation, especially with regards to military
trade. This is because of the domestic sensitivities of the largely
Shia Muslim population in Azerbaijan and also the geopolitical
tensions between Israel and Iran particularly over the latter's
alleged pursuit of a nuclear weapons programme. Under the arms supply
deal Azerbaijan is due to receive anti-aircraft and missile defence
systems as well as 60 unmanned aerial vehicles systems. Although the
conclusion of the agreement coincides with a particularly low point
in Azerbaijani-Iranian relations, the new military acquisitions appear
to be part of the Azerbaijani leadership's bid to revamp its army and
prepare it for a possible military solution to the Nagorno Karabakh
conflict. Nonetheless, close co-operation with Iran's foe Israel are
set to further fuel suspicions in Tehran over Baku's position in case
the situation over the nuclear issue escalates in the near future.