Orkhan Sattarov. Exclusively to VK
Development of the diplomatic conflict between Tehran and Baku has a simple scheme – it becomes tenser and tenser, at least verbally. Intensification of Iran’s international isolation, the pro-Western position of Azerbaijan in the Syrian and other problems, and multimillion military deals with Israel push the mullahs’ regime to anti-Azerbaijani statements. This is so much the case that during sermons in Iranian mosques Azerbaijani leaders are being insulted. As the result the avalanche effect appears. Today two countries with common history and culture are at the edge of breaking-up the diplomatic relations. Tehran withdrew its ambassador from Baku, and then Azerbaijan withdrew its ambassador from Tehran.
The internal political situation in Iran influences Iranian-Azerbaijani relations too, i.e. competition between President Mahmud Ahmadinejad and Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei. Azerbaijan has traditionally more constructive ties with the Iranian government headed by President. I mean secular part of the Iranian power.
But weakening of Ahmadinejad’s positions in Iran after the recent parliamentary elections and strengthening of clericalists played its negative role in tension in Iranian-Azerbaijani relations. The Iranian politicized clerics do not recognize state borders and consider Azerbaijani Shiahs as stockpiles, ignoring the Azerbaijani statehood.
Along with mutual withdrawing of ambassadors, two Azerbaijani poets were arrested in Iran. After three notes by the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry on the fate of Azerbaijan’s citizens were left with no reply, Tehran decided to react at last. The Iranian sided demanded not a note from Azerbaijan, but a “please” (haishname). The press-secretary of Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry, Elman Abdullayev, excluded this possibility.
In fact Iran captured two citizens of Azerbaijan, trying to make Baku to beg Iran to free them. This begging would contradict the state status of Azerbaijan. Of course Baku didn’t take such a step.
The other fact is interesting. Recently one of convicted activists of pro-Iranian Islamic Party has been freed. It could be considered as a sign of good will toward Tehran. However, soon it became clear that Baku has no intention to five “green light” to Iranian agitators. On June 11 it was announced that a journalist of the Iranian TV and Fars agency was sentenced to prison for two years on a charge of storage of drugs.
The major part of drugs comes to Azerbaijan from Iran. Drugs are punished by death penalty in Iran, but enormous amounts of drugs come to Azerbaijan. It is doubtful that the Iranian authorities do not know about it. In the off record regime some Azerbaijani experts say that drugs illegal traffic is a part of the so-called Cold War directed against Azerbaijan.
That is why the current argue between Baku and Tehran seems to be simple and emotional only from the first sight. In reality the problem is deeper. Tehran cannot admit the fact that the Azerbaijani Republic, the population of which speaks the same language that population of Tebriz, Ardebil, and Maragi speaks, is an independent state and doesn’t want to be a satellite of Tehran. It will be very difficult to solve the conflict without damaging the reputation of Tehran. Baku won’t yield either.
