Azernews.Az

Iran should apologize to Azerbaijan over harsh statements of the neighboring country`s officials, Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry spokesman Elman Abdullayev told journalists last Thursday.

Abdullayev said the Iranian government should not allow new protests outside the Azerbaijani consulate in Tabriz.

He also dismissed media reports saying Tehran handed a note of protest to the Azerbaijani ambassador over recent anti-Iran protests held in Baku.

Iran`s Foreign Ministry early last week summoned Azerbaijani Ambassador Javanshir Akhundov, saying ``the honor and dignity of the Islamic republic`s spiritual leaders have been insulted`` during the protests.

Dozens of protesters in Baku picketed the Iranian embassy on May 17, condemning what they called ``Tehran`s anti-Azerbaijani politics`` and holding pictures of Iran`s ayatollahs and president. The Iranian embassy labeled the protest as ``ordered``.

Officials at the Iranian embassy said Ambassador Mohammad Bagher Bahrami had returned to Tehran ``for consultations``.

Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi last Wednesday criticized Azerbaijan, urging the country`s government to denounce the protest held outside the Iranian embassy.

Salehi`s statement on recent tension in Iran-Azerbaijan relations, released by the Iranian embassy in Baku, says: ``We have repeatedly announced that Azerbaijan must observe some issues that align with the interests of both countries and peoples.

``We hope that the Azerbaijani government will react to the latest unpleasant action outside the Iranian embassy, condemn it and will not permit reoccurrence of such incidents.``

The Iranian foreign minister said that ``the necessary political steps`` must be taken in the area of bilateral relations, adding, ``As the issues arising from the religious principles are very delicate, everyone must be attentive in dealing with them, otherwise, no country intends to intervene in the internal affairs of another``.

Commenting on Salehi`s statement, Azerbaijani Presidential Administration department head Ali Hasanov told Trend news agency that the Azerbaijani authorities ``expected this statement`` from Iran`s officials.

``It is a pity Salehi`s calls contain threats,`` Hasanov said. ``It is impossible to scare Azerbaijan with these threats, to force it to turn away from the right path, to break the will of the Azerbaijani people.``

Hasanov said Azerbaijan has repeatedly expressed its stance on Iran, saying that it is ready to further maintain friendly relations ``at all levels, beginning from the head of state``.

``We have repeatedly stated that Azerbaijan will not harm Iran. But at the same time, we have urged the Iranian side to be cautious toward Azerbaijan, its choice, the will of the Azerbaijani people, the state system, and Azerbaijani domestic and foreign policy. Iran must respond to the anti-Azerbaijani calls of its clergy.``

The Presidential Administration official noted that Azerbaijan respects all religious values of Islam and has never allowed any calls to be made against Islamic sanctities and measures to be taken against Islamic values.

``Azerbaijan also respects Iran`s clergy,`` Hasanov added. ``But, unfortunately, some clerics make calls, voice slogans that are an example of disrespect for Azerbaijan, the Azerbaijani statehood, its constitutional order, people and the Azerbaijani President. We are waiting for the Iranian side`s response to these calls. We expect Iran`s official circles to issue statements condemning anti-Azerbaijani appeals, to counter such actions, which have a negative impact on the relations between the two countries.``

Hasanov made clear that Baku does not support most of the calls that were made during the pickets held in front of the Iranian embassy. He added, ``Moreover, we will express an appropriate stance. If negative statements about Iran`s clergy, spiritual leaders were voiced, there will be an appropriate response. But we expect similar actions from the Iranian side. We also expect Iran`s authorities to adequately assess the calls directed against Azerbaijan, the Azerbaijani people, and [the country`s] constitutional order.``

Tensions between Iran and mainly Muslim but officially secular Azerbaijan have escalated in recent months after Azerbaijani authorities arrested a number of men with links to Iran who were reportedly plotting attacks in Azerbaijan.

Ties have also frayed over reported closer links between Azerbaijan and Iranian rival Israel, including reported Azerbaijani purchases of Israeli weapons.