Iran Recalls its Ambassador to Azerbaijan

Iran has recalled its ambassador to Azerbaijan, Mohammad Bagher Bahrami, Azerbaijan’s SalamNews agency said on Tuesday (citing diplomatic sources). The move has allegedly been made in response to insults against Iran’s spiritual leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei during a protest in front of the Iranian embassy in Baku. Bahrami is expected to leave the country “for consultations” on Tuesday and the date of his return is unknown. Ties between Tehran and Baku have deteriorated recently. In February and March, Azerbaijan’s Ministry of National Security carried out several clandestine operations to reveal Iranian spies and intelligence agents in Baku preparing sabotage and terrorist actions. Iran has accused Azerbaijan, which borders Iran and has friendly relations with the United States and Israel, of colluding with the Israeli intelligence in the killing of an Iranian nuclear scientist in January.

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