Border clash ineffective on Tehran, Baku

Iran’s Foreign Ministry Spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast says the Islamic Republic and Azerbaijan are determined to bolster relations, stressing border issues should not adversely affect mutual ties.

Iran and Azerbaijan are two neighboring states and their relations are established on the basis of good neighborliness, Mehmanparast told  on Monday in the wake of a recent borderline clash between the two countries.

He added that exchange of visits between Iranian and Azeri officials bear witness to brotherly relations between Tehran and Baku.

The spokesperson further stated that incidents happen where two countries share borders, stressing such a singular case needs to be addressed through diplomatic channels.

Mehmanparast’s comments come in the wake of a recent incident in which an Azerbaijani border guard was killed in a clash with Iranian forces after illegally entering the Iranian territory.

Iran’s Deputy Interior Minister Ali Abdollahi on Monday confirmed the clash between border guards of Iran and Azerbaijan following the illegal entrance of Azeri forces to the Islamic Republic.

“The clash took place after Azerbaijani border guards illegally entered Iran’s soil and failed to heed the warnings of the Iranian border guards,” Abdollahi further explained.

“Following the clash, officials of the two countries examined the case after Iranian and Azerbaijani border guards held contacts and meetings,” he added.

He further went on to say that the case is currently under investigation through diplomatic channels.

The Iranian official also said several other people were injured in the incident, which happened after Azeri forces crossed the border and opened fire on Iranian border guards.

Weapons of Azerbaijan’s forces were abandoned in the area following the clash, he added.

Abdollahi expressed hope that Azeri guards would pay more attention to the borderlines and warnings issued by Iran’s border guards in the future.