Iran: Military drills near Azerbaijan an issue of "sovereignty"September 29, 2021 - 12:16 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Tehran on Tuesday, September 28 invoked its "sovereignty" to dismiss Azerbaijan's concerns over Iranian military exercises near their shared border, AFP reports (via Barron's). "The drills carried out by our country in the northwest border areas... are a question of sovereignty," Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh said in a statement on the ministry website. Tehran "will take all measures it judges necessary for its national security", he said, adding, "Iran will not tolerate the presence of the Zionist regime near our borders" -- an allusion to Azerbaijan's relations with Iran's enemy Israel. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev earlier criticized Tehran over the drills, calling them "a very surprising event". "Every country can carry out any military drill on its own territory. It's their sovereign right. But why now, and why on our border?" he said in an interview with Turkish news agency Anadolu published on Monday. No further details were available on the military exercises. Iran and Azerbaijan share a border of around 700 kilometres (430 miles) and generally have good relations. According to some estimates, there are around 10 million members of Iran's Azeri-speaking community. Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads. Partner news | Viva-MTS: Tech solutions to modernize infrastructure of border village The border village has been the focus of Viva-MTS and the Foundation for the Preservation of Wildlife and Cultural Values since 2015. Ucom's fixed network launched in Artashat To mark this occasion, the company has introduced a special offer exclusively for Artashat residents. “By Your Side”: IDBank's new support program for displaced Artsakh citizens IDBank is launching a long-term social support program for forcibly displaced Artsakh residents. The Power of One Dram to benefit Road of Life charity The companies inform that the May beneficiary of The Power of One Dram is the “Road of Life” charitable organization. |