Iran and Azerbaijan began a joint military exercise on Sunday in the Karabakh region, which was captured by Baku from Armenia approximately two years ago, according to Iran's Tasnim news agency, which is affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
The report indicates IRGC forces crossed the border Sunday morning into the area where the joint "Aras 2025" exercise will take place. A similar exercise was conducted last year between the two countries, which share a border and maintain a complex relationship. However, the decision to conduct this exercise in territory captured from Armenia – traditionally an Iranian ally – suggests a potential warming of relations between Baku and Tehran.
Video: Iran and Azerbaijan's joint military exercise
The exercise, featuring special forces from both the Iranian Revolutionary Guards and the Azerbaijani military, will continue until May 21. General Vali Madani, the IRGC Ground Forces Deputy Commander for Operations and commander of the joint exercise, said that special forces crossed the land border at Bileh Savar in Ardabil province in northwestern Iran to participate in the drills.
"This exercise represents a significant step in strengthening security along our shared border and addressing potential threats," Madani added. The backdrop to these exercises includes the notably close relationship between Azerbaijan and Israel, which encompasses arms sales and diplomatic mediation between Jerusalem and Ankara regarding the situation in Syria. An Azerbaijani military delegation previously visited Iran's Ardabil province last November to observe an earlier exercise called "Aras 2024."
