Iranian commander warns against "formation of threats" near its borders

The commander of Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Ground Forces, Brigadier General Mohammad Pakpour, has warned against the "formation of threats" near Iranian borders.

"The Zionist regime is trying to take advantage of its relations with certain countries in the region to build bases in some of Iran’s neighbouring countries," the Tasnim news agency quoted him as saying on October 20.

"But the armed forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran and the IRGC ground forces will not allow the Zionists [Israel] to do this. We do not allow the formation of any threat centres in the vicinity of the country's borders," the commander said referring to Azerbaijan's extensive military cooperation with Israel.

Pakpour also reiterated Iran's line that the country will not "accept changes in our borders that harm our national interests and security", a sentiment frequently declared by Iranian officials since the onset of the most recent tensions between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

The IRGC’s four-day large-scale military exercise in north-western Iran near the Azerbaijan border finished on October 20.