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Iran has recalled its ambassador to Azerbaijan for consultations following a visit by Israeli President Shimon Peres to Baku, Reuters quoted an Iranian news agency as saying on Monday.
Quoting an informed source, ISNA said the envoy was recalled to Tehran after Peres` visit to Azerbaijan on Sunday following "threats" which it said the Israeli ambassador in Baku had voiced against Iran, without elaborating.
The semi-official Fars News Agency carried a similar report.
Iran does not recognize Israel, which it refers to as the "Zionist regime." Israel has not ruled out military action if diplomatic efforts fail to resolve Tehran`s nuclear row with the West. Tehran has said its nuclear work is peaceful.
Some Iranian politicians have concluded that the Israeli leader`s visit will harm the country`s relations with Azerbaijan, while Azerbaijani officials have said Baku was pursuing its foreign policy in line with its national interests.

Threat from Iran
An Iranian television host has warned of fallout from Azerbaijan`s maintaining ties with Israel.
"Azerbaijani officials should fathom the truth. Relations with Shimon Peres, with Israel, and such actions are disrespect to the Islamic world, to the 1.5 billion-people-strong Muslim community and, naturally, this won`t pass without consequences," claimed Bahrul Ulumi, the host of the Compass program on Iran`s Seher (Morning) TV channel.
Ulumi, who leveled threats throughout the program against Azerbaijan, and the country`s leadership in particular, warned that Baku should thoroughly ponder the potential aftermath of President Peres` visit.
Ulumi, who has been issuing incessant threats by making various hints since the Israeli leader`s visit came to the forefront, launched an outright offensive on the day the visit took place. The TV program covered discontent with Peres` visit -- from public protests in Moscow to grievances in Baku and Iran. The questions asked of the viewers had the same tone: "If rapprochement with the Israeli regime is infuriating Muslims, what does Baku gain?" The answers given from both Iran and Azerbaijan supported Seher`s allegations.
The subtitles displayed on the screen throughout the program maintained that Azerbaijan is allegedly facing the threat of being isolated by Islamic nations and that Peres` visit has materialized due to Baku`s failure to pursue an independent policy.
Commenting on the allegations, Panah Huseyn, a member of the Azerbaijani parliamentary committee on security and defense, said the Iranian TV channel is engaged in provocations running counter to ethical norms, good neighborly relations and Islamic society values, thus undermining Iran`s image in Azerbaijan.
"This means meddling in [our] internal affairs. Iran has no direct opportunities to punish Azerbaijan," the lawmaker said.
According to Mubariz Gurbanly, an MP representing the ruling New Azerbaijan Party (NAP), Azerbaijan is an independent state and is at liberty to forge ties with any country it chooses, including Israel.
As for Seher TV channel`s threats, he said: "We are not even talking about the Armenian president`s going to Iran and embracing and receiving assistance. It is currently not the 18-19th centuries for someone to punish another. The world is guided by laws."
Political analyst Rasim Musabayov has pointed out that media uncontrolled by the state are non-existent in Iran, therefore Seher`s allegations could be interpreted as an expression of Tehran`s attitude on the issue.
"But it is also seen, from the programs being aired, that this TV channel and those nourishing it are ignorant, as they won`t be able to accomplish anything by leveling threats against Azerbaijan," Musabayov concluded.
There are quite a few of those who are trying to actually defend Azerbaijan and consider Iran to be a source of constant threats. As a result of these threats, the supporters of such conduct in the Iranian leadership might cause a counter-effect. Such attitudes may, in fact, turn Azerbaijan into a stronghold of forces that would be opposed to neighboring Iran, analysts say.
As for claims that Peres has visited Baku because of Azerbaijan`s alleged inability to pursue an independent policy, Musabayov believes this is a biased approach.
"Azerbaijan would not have acted as an independent state if it had actually refused to host Shimon Peres, having taken into account Iran`s actions. This policy is a demonstration that the country is a sovereign state to those who are reluctant to accept Azerbaijan`s independence."
According to Musabayov, Iran`s attempts to set Islamic nations against Azerbaijan are doomed to fail, given that Egypt and other Muslim nations are maintaining bilateral relations with Tel-Aviv.

Presidential talks
During the two-day visit, President Peres had a one-on-one meeting on Sunday with his Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev.
"We had been told that the weather in Baku would be scorching hot, but we have witnessed that it`s not that hot here," Peres said during the meeting. "We are thankful for your cordial welcome. We have discussed a great number of issues."
According to official reports, the two leaders focused on bilateral relations, regional and international issues during the talks.
Following the presidential talks, the two countries signed documents covering cooperation in the fields of culture, education and science, as well as information communication technologies.
Presidents Aliyev and Peres issued a joint statement for the press following the signing.
Peres praised Azerbaijan`s coping with the consequences of Armenia`s long-standing occupation of a part of its internationally-recognized territory. "Despite the occupation, the Azerbaijani people have managed to maintain their culture and optimism," Peres said.
The Israeli president added that he understood the gravity of the problems faced by one million Azerbaijani refugees and displaced persons, living among the nation`s 8.5 million population, who were ousted from their homes during the war in the early 1990s. "This means that one out of eight people in Azerbaijan are IDPs, and you [President Aliyev] are properly coping with this problem."
Peres emphasized that there are similarities between Israel and Azerbaijan. "Though our countries are small in territory, our people have great hearts."
The Israeli leader underscored the importance of further boosting collaboration between the two countries and noted that there is an environment of significant tolerance towards all people in Azerbaijan.
Expressing his gratitude for the favorable attitude toward the Jewish community in the predominantly-Muslim South Caucasus republic, Peres said: "This has been the case throughout history. Jews coming from Azerbaijan share their good impressions about your country all the time."
Peres noted that the delegation accompanying him on his visit included three ministers and nearly 50 influential businessmen.
The Azerbaijani president, for his part, said constructive discussions had been held on a number of issues.
"We have discussed issues relating to bilateral relations, and I am confident that this visit will play a very important role in the successful development of our relations.
"We also discussed issues concerning economic development. The trade turnover between our countries is on the increase, as the figure reached $3.6 billion last year. I am sure that the trade turnover will be around that figure in 2009 as well," President Aliyev said.
Aliyev cited excellent prospects for developing Azerbaijani-Israeli cooperation in a variety of fields, including agriculture, healthcare, tourism, science and technologies, and space industry.
Touching on energy sector cooperation, the Azerbaijani leader said collaboration in this field will be continued in the future.
President Peres met with students at the Azerbaijan University of Languages on Monday. Peres stressed that Tel-Aviv supports the principle of Azerbaijan`s territorial integrity in the settlement to its conflict with Armenia over Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh. He added that his country backs a peaceful solution to the dispute.
Regarding bilateral economic relations, Peres highlighted the importance of projects on supplying hydrocarbons from the resource-rich South Caucasus republic to Israel. "This has both economic and political aspects."
During his visit to Baku, Peres also attended a business forum that brought together the two countries` entrepreneurs.
This was the Israeli president`s first visit to the region. Following his meetings in Baku, Peres left Azerbaijan for Kazakhstan.