The prestigious American newspaper Barron’s referred to the two-day joint naval exercises that Iran and Azerbaijan began in the Caspian Sea this week. As noted, state media reported this, signaling improving ties between the neighbors amid soaring regional tensions.
It was noted that relations between the two countries soured in January 2023, when a gunman stormed into Baku’s embassy in Tehran, killing a diplomat and wounding two guards. Iran’s foreign ministry at the time strongly condemned the attack, saying the motivations behind it were “personal.”
But Azerbaijan criticized Iran over the shooting, with foreign ministry spokesman Ayxan Hacizada saying an anti-Azerbaijani campaign had “encouraged the attack.” In April 2023, Azerbaijan said it had notified Iran’s ambassador to Baku that four employees of his embassy had been declared personae non gratae. Iran followed suit by expelling four Azerbaijani diplomats a month later, but in July Azerbaijan’s embassy in Tehran resumed regular work.
Ties between the two countries have traditionally been strained, with the former Soviet republic a close ally of Iran’s historical rivals Turkey and arch-enemy Israel.
Iran also fears Azerbaijani territory could be used for a possible attack on Iran by Israel, a major arms supplier to Baku. Iran and Israel have in recent months engaged in tit-for-tat direct attacks against one another with the latest being conducted on Oct. 26 by Israeli warplanes against Iranian military sites that led to the death of five Iranians.
