Even in the published photographs, experts have noticed that a fence has appeared around the embassy building, which was not there before. According to Baku, the resumption of the embassy’s work will contribute to the further development of Azerbaijani-Iranian relations based on mutual respect and good neighborliness.
This is yet another informative indicator of the current “warming” of relations between Baku and Tehran. It is tempting to link the resumption of the embassy’s work and the general warming of relations with the victory of Masud Pezeshkian in the Iranian presidential elections, but Baku and Tehran started “breaking the ice” even during the late Raisi’s time, moving from threatening exercises at the border to the opening of joint hydropower plants. The potential for bilateral relations between Iran and Azerbaijan is enormous, and good neighborliness and mutual respect are always better than hostility.
However, it seems not everyone in Tehran thinks this way. During the days when the Azerbaijani embassy was resuming its activities in the Iranian capital, Mehdi Sobhani, the Iranian ambassador to Armenia, made a series of provocative statements in an interview with the Armenian edition of Radio Liberty. This unfortunate diplomat repeated Armenian narratives, stating that “the rights of Armenian residents of Karabakh must be respected,” and that “when talking about a lasting peace, this issue must be taken into account.” He also claimed that “the main reason they left this territory was that they did not feel safe,” and “they did not leave voluntarily,” among other things. Thus, he not only repeated Armenian propaganda but also hinted that the issue of returning Armenians to Karabakh should become part of the peace agreement.
Leaving aside the question of whether Iranian diplomats are allowed to converse with a reporter from a station funded by the U.S. budget, the important point is that the Iranian ambassador to Armenia speaks like an Armenian government official and representative of Yerevan. Moreover, he does this against the backdrop of the general warming between Azerbaijan and Iran. So, is the Iranian ambassador to Armenia unaware of these processes? Or has he become so bold as to play his own game?
Indeed, recently, no one has caused more damage to the bilateral relations between Azerbaijan and Iran with thoughtless statements than Sobhani. Through his actions, including statements and interviews, he seems to be trying to escalate tensions between Baku and Tehran.
Furthermore, reliable sources informed minval.az that Mehdi Sobhani is closely connected with Iranian journalist Ehsan Mohavedian, who never misses an opportunity to throw mud at Azerbaijan. This duo almost went into mourning after Masud Pezeshkian won the Iranian elections.
Of course, one could construct a dozen conspiracy theories, noting that Sobhani is an IRGC officer and suggesting that if the Foreign Ministry supports relations with Azerbaijan, the “Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps” might have its own position. However, other IRGC-affiliated individuals have not made such blatant anti-Azerbaijani remarks, at least in recent weeks and months, when warming relations between Azerbaijan and Iran began. Additionally, any state operates—or should operate—under certain inviolable rules. Disagreements among various groups on different issues may exist. In most world capitals, there is always a silent war between “doves” and “hawks,” “reformers” and “conservatives,” pragmatists and those convinced that their country has a special mission. But in any case, a consolidated position is presented publicly. It is well known that an ambassador is an official representative and must only express the position of their government.
Considering all this, how long will Mr. Sobhani continue to damage the atmosphere of relations between Baku and Tehran?
A. Shakur
Translated from minval.az
