Diplomacy best way to settle Tehran-Baku row: Amir-Abdollahian

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian has criticized “unrealistic remarks” made by Azeri president Ilham Aliyev, saying diplomacy is the best way to settle the differences between Tehran and Baku.

In meddlesome remarks last week, Aliyev described Azerbaijani Turks – most of whom reside in northwest Iran – as “compatriots,” expressing regrets that they were “separated from the state of Azerbaijan due to bitter fate.”

“The state of Azerbaijan pays special attention to the protection of the rights, freedoms and security of Azerbaijanis living abroad,” he said during the 9th Summit of the Organization of Turkic States, a pan-Turkic institution advocating Turkish unity and integration. 

“We will continue our efforts so that our compatriots, who were separated from the state of Azerbaijan due to bitter fate, preserve our language, traditions, and culture, remain loyal to the ideas of Azerbaijanism, and never cut ties with their historical homeland,” he added.

During a phone call with his Azeri counterpart Jeyhun Bayramov on Tuesday, Amir-Abdollahian, while hinting at those remarks, expressed Iran’s discontent over what he called some unrealistic comments.

He said respecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of countries and not interfering in their internal affairs is an essential and fundamental principle.

“Bringing up such issues in the media not only does not contribute to solving the problem, but also provides the ground for the enemies’ exploitation,” he said.

• Iran summons Azeri ambassador to protest anti-Tehran propaganda

Following Aliyev’s remarks last week, Iran’s Foreign Ministry summoned Azerbaijan’s ambassador over “anti-Iran propaganda” and a “smear campaign” against the Islamic Republic.

“During the session, the Iranian foreign minister’s assistant and director general of the [Foreign] Ministry’s Eurasia Department conveyed Iran’s strong protest at and dissatisfaction with the unfriendly remarks of Azerbaijan’s top officials and Azeri media’s smear campaign to Baku’s envoy,” the ministry said in a statement.

Azerbaijan also summoned Iran’s envoy on Friday to protest a “smear campaign” against the country and “threatening rhetoric” from high-ranking Iranian civilian and military officials.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kan’ani said on Monday that since Iran pursues a policy of good neighborliness toward its neighbors, it does not get carried away with every ill-considered comment.

“No one should interpret Iran’s patience as weakness,” he said during a press conference. “The history of the countries of the region is transparent and cannot be distorted, and it is better to read the history correctly.”

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