Flexing flabby muscles on the border with Azerbaijan What haunts Iranian mullahs?

"Iran will conduct military exercises wherever it deems necessary, " member of the Iranian Parliamentary Committee on National Security and Foreign Policy Hasan Hemmati stated, adding that the Islamic Republic will not accept any changes in the borders of the South Caucasus, IRNA reports. Commenting on the IRGC exercises in northwest Iran on the border with Azerbaijan, he noted that "these exercises were a demonstration of strength, a message of peace and friendship for neighboring countries and a resolute response to any threat to enemies."

Undoubtedly, military exercises are the sovereign right of every state possessing armed forces. As a rule, military exercises are the highest form of combat training and at the same time the test of field, air, and sea training of personnel and commanders. The Azerbaijani Armed Forces also regularly conduct military exercises involving various types and branches of troops. Two facts are worth noting here: first, Baku informs neighbouring states and international bodies of the exercise schedule in advance, and second, the Azerbaijani army exercises are not directed against third countries (except Armenia, until Yerevan signs a peace treaty).

However, Iran's military exercises on the border with Azerbaijan are nothing but a muscle play, a show of force to intimidate our country and Armenia, which the Iranian MP once again testified to. It is no coincidence that during the exercises the Iranian military practiced driving pontoon bridges and forcing the Araz River on the border with Azerbaijan. The hint is more than transparent. However, Iran's messages to Armenia are secondary to us, so let us concentrate on the threats to our state.

The clerical regime regularly resorts to the language of blackmail and threats, including the involvement of the army and IRGC formations in "exercises" on the border with Azerbaijan, when it is acutely displeased with something or believes that its interests in the region are allegedly infringed. The current exercises on the border with Azerbaijan are of the same kind. It is obvious that these exercises are anti-Azerbaijani in nature and are an attempt to demonstrate the strength of the mullahs' regime. However, even a cursory analysis of the exercises showed the low level of professionalism of Iran's army and IRGC units, and the Iranian Armed Forces' technical lagging behind modern military standards. After all, many years of Western sanctions could not but affect the technological state of the Iranian army, which has virtually remained at the level of the 1970s.

The footage from this exercise showed that the backbone of Iran's armoured vehicles is made up of obsolete tanks and armoured fighting vehicles. Because of this, incidentally, there have been cases of misdirection and the defeat of their own equipment by "friendly fire".

The UAVs, which have been widely touted by the mullahs' regime, are now being destroyed en masse by the AFU. By sending its UAVs to Ukraine, Tehran has shown itself to be a direct participant in the war, carrying out the genocide of the Ukrainian civilian population. While hypocritically denying accusations of involvement in the Russian-Ukrainian war, the IRI nevertheless sent its UAVs and specialists to maintain them. The direct involvement of the Iranian military in directly targeting peaceful Ukrainian cities cannot be ruled out either.

But, let us return to Iran's exercises on the Azerbaijani border. Although the message of the Iranian regime is clear, the flexing of the southern neighbour's flabby muscles is of little concern to Azerbaijan. On October 20 in Jabrayil, President Ilham Aliyev, in a joint statement with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, unequivocally stated: "A country as powerful as Türkiye is a brother country, and that makes us very happy. The Second Karabakh war, the post-war period further strengthened this unity. Last year we signed the Shusha Declaration in Shusha, and Türkiye and Azerbaijan officially became allies. We became allies in all areas, which is a serious achievement for our two peoples, at the same time it is a serious message to the region and the world because Turkish-Azeri unity is a very important factor in the region. It is a factor of peace and stability. At the same time, if someone once again tries to take unjust actions against us, this factor should certainly be taken into serious consideration."

We are confident that Iran should draw serious conclusions from this statement and clarify for itself whether it wants to face this force. At the same time, we would like to stress once again that the steps implemented by Azerbaijan, including the implementation of the Zangazur corridor, are not directed against anyone. Their purpose is to make a significant contribution to the development of the region. And in this context, it is worth recalling the statement of Turkish leader Erdogan in Jabrayil on October 20: "The fear and anxiety existing in some circles regarding the Zangazur corridor, which will connect Nakhchivan with the western parts of Azerbaijan, is far from reality. This fear is irrelevant after all these steps regarding Karabakh. Azerbaijan is confidently continuing its way. by contributing to peace, tranquillity, and stability. This road will open up trade and investment opportunities for all countries along the East-West and Middle Corridor routes that run through the Caspian Sea."

Alas, despite all this, Iran continues its traditional pro-Armenian and anti-Azerbaijani policy. It is no coincidence that while the Turkish president was in Azerbaijan, the Iranian foreign minister rushed to Yerevan to show his support. This way Tehran reaffirmed its commitment to developing political, trade and economic, and humanitarian ties with Yerevan, which it has done during the almost 30-year occupation of the sovereign territories of Azerbaijan by Armenia. Iranian leaders did not hesitate then and do not hesitate now to buddy up with such war criminals and executioners of innocent Azerbaijani population as Kocharyan and Sargsyan while embracing whom they make sweet statements about the Iranian-Armenian friendship and brotherhood. All these years, Iran turned a blind eye to the destruction of the national and cultural heritage of the Azerbaijani people in Karabakh, the destruction and desecration of mosques, but did not fail to restore the mosque in Yerevan, trying hard to give the criminal regime in Yerevan the appearance of humanists. And what is more - there is undeniable evidence of the active participation of Iranian companies in the looting of property of expelled Azerbaijani population in the occupied territories.

Therefore, it is not surprising that after being convinced that Azerbaijan won the 44-day war, the Iranian leadership was among the last to express support for our country. However, even during the war, the clerical regime did not hesitate to supply arms to Armenians, and did not hesitate to voice threats against Azerbaijan. In this context, it is worthwhile to recall how in the heat of the 44-day war, the Iranian military invaded our country and tried to stop the successful advance of the Azerbaijani troops. Although the issue was resolved diplomatically, the Iranians nevertheless managed to gain some time for the fleeing Armenians.

Iranian officials, who during the occupation of Azerbaijani lands limited themselves to mere duty and empty statements, now consistently speak about the notorious "red line" - the territorial integrity of Armenia, voice threats against Azerbaijan, conduct military exercises, trying to protect Armenia by all means possible. A clear example of the hypocrisy of the Iranian officialdom is the fact that Iran supports a state that sheds the blood of Muslims. Thus, Tehran evidently deprives itself of the right to speak of defending Islamic values.

Paradoxically, but with such a far from friendly and even at times hostile attitude of Iran to Azerbaijan, there are few elements in our country that are managed and financed by the mullah regime. They refuse to understand that they are a "fifth column" that Iranian special services are trying to use against the Azerbaijani people and state. By brainwashing them, Iranian mullahs want to form their strongholds within Azerbaijan and prepare bridgeheads for future provocations. We believe that this network must be exposed as soon as possible, and its activists must be presented to Azerbaijani society and become the object of the harshest condemnation. Both on the part of society and the law.