Iran recalls ambassador to Azerbaijan

PanARMENIAN.Net - Iran has recalled its ambassador to Azerbaijan Mohammad Bagher Bahrami, RIANovosti reported citing Azerbaijan’s SalamNews agency.

The move has allegedly been made in response to insults against Iran’s spiritual leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei during a protest in front of the Iranian embassy in Baku.

Bahrami is expected to leave the country “for consultations” on Tuesday, May 22 and the date of his return is unknown.

Ties between Tehran and Baku have deteriorated recently.

In February and March, Azerbaijan’s Ministry of National Security carried out several clandestine operations to reveal Iranian spies and intelligence agents in Baku preparing sabotage and terrorist actions.

Iran has accused Azerbaijan, which borders Iran and has friendly relations with the United States and Israel, of colluding with the Israeli intelligence in the killing of an Iranian nuclear scientist in January.

Tehran has also blasted Baku over media reports speculating that Azerbaijan may have been in talks on leasing its airfields to Israel for a possible airstrike against Iranian nuclear facilities.

The last time Iranian authorities recalled their ambassador from Baku was during the visit of Israeli President Shimon Peres to Azerbaijan in 2009.