Azerbaijan Will Not Allow Third Party To Use Soil Against Iran: FM

Baku, Dec 31, IRNA – Azerbaijan Republic's Foreign Minister Elmar Mamedyarov reiterated here on Sunday that his country's soil will not be used as a launch pad against Iran. Speaking to reporters, he refused media allegations that the Republic of Azerbaijan is going to allow its soil to be used by Iran's enemies against the Islamic Republic and added that making good relations with the neighboring countries on the basis of mutual respect is the principle of Baku's independent foreign policy. 'Baku wants all regional crises to be resolved through dialogue.' Media reports had revived speculations about Azerbaijan facilitating an Israeli attack against Iran after leaked intelligence in late September by two 'former Azeri military officers with links to serving personnel' revealed that Baku and Tel Aviv have been looking at how Azeri bases and intelligence could serve in a possible strike against Iran. The United States, Zionist regime and some of their allies have accused Iran of pursuing non-civilian objectives in its nuclear energy program with Tel Aviv using this as a pretext to threaten Iran with a military option. Iran rejects the allegations, arguing that as a member of the International Atomic Energy Agency and also a signatory to the Non-Proliferation Treaty, it is entitled to develop and acquire nuclear technology for peaceful purposes. Iran has an embassy in Baku and a consulate-general in the autonomous republic of Nakhichevan. Azerbaijan has an embassy in Tehran and a consulate-general in Tabriz. Iran and Azerbaijan have had diplomatic relations since the latter's independence from the former Soviet Union. The two countries have a majority Shiite population and share many cultural commonalities./end