Araghchi calls for balanced nuclear deal with verifiable sanctions relief

The Aras or Araz-2025 drill, named after the border river Aras, is being held in areas reclaimed from Armenia by Azerbaijan during its 2020 military operation and will continue through May 21, according to officials from both countries.

Iran’s delegation, including senior commanders from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Ground Forces, crossed into Azerbaijan via the Bileh Savar border in Iran’s Ardabil province.

Brigadier General Vali Madani, IRGC’s deputy ground forces operations commander and the joint drill’s lead officer, said the exercise aims to bolster border security and enhance coordination in response to potential regional threats.

The drill comes amid ongoing peace efforts between Azerbaijan and Armenia following decades of conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh. Iran, which shares borders with both countries, has voiced support for a permanent peace agreement.

Iranian officials say such cooperation contributes to regional stability. "This exercise is a significant step toward strengthening mutual trust and security along shared borders," Madani said.

A previous joint exercise between Iranian and Azerbaijani special forces took place in December 2023 in Iran’s Ardabil province.

Tehran has expressed support for the peace deal framework agreed in March between Armenia and Azerbaijan, which includes Armenia’s recognition of Azerbaijani sovereignty over Karabakh.

Iran has also positioned itself as a mediator and supporter of post-conflict reconstruction and regional development.

However, the relationship between the two sides has undergone friction in recent years, including Tehran's anger at Baku's opening an embassy in Tel Aviv two years ago, and more recently, regarding the two nations' growing economic and military ties.

Earlier this year, Kamal Kharrazi, chairman of Iran’s Strategic Council on Foreign Relations and a top adviser to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, warned Azerbaijan about its growing ties with Israel.

“Countries should take their neighbors’ sensitivities into consideration,” Kharrazi told Hikmet Hajiyev, assistant to the president of Azerbaijan for foreign policy affairs, in a January meeting in Tehran.

Only in December, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev had condemned comments by Hassan Ameli, the Friday Prayer leader of Ardabil, who accused Baku of collaborating with Israel.

The three were convicted of “corruption on earth” and “assisting in armed rebellion,” charges that carry the death penalty under Iran’s Islamic law.

The judiciary described them as key coordinators in the planning and logistics of the attacks, which killed a total of 15 people, according to official figures.

Five others received prison terms ranging from five to 25 years. Two were identified as members of the Islamic State militant group, also known as Daesh.

The shrine, a prominent religious and tourist site, was targeted twice in less than a year. Iranian authorities previously executed two people connected to the first attack in October 2022.

In the second attack in August 2023, the main perpetrator was identified as Rahmatullah Nowruzov, a Tajik national. Authorities arrested multiple foreign nationals in connection with that incident.

Iranian officials have attributed the attacks to extremist groups.

The nuclear dispute with Europe should not be allowed to define Iran’s vulnerability, former diplomat Nosratollah Tajik told Khabar Online.

“What happened Friday [in Istanbul] was not a formal, structured negotiation but rather political consultations,” Tajik said about Tehran negotiations with three European countries, adding that Iran aims to keep Europe engaged to prevent it from triggering the snapback mechanism.

He said Tehran seeks parallel channels with global players in case talks with Washington collapse, but insisted "Europe lacks the will or capacity to confront the US independently."

European powers pressed for a formal seat at the table and new enforcement mechanisms during recent nuclear talks with Iran, according to reporting by conservative daily Farhikhtegan.

At Friday’s meeting in Iran’s consulate in Istanbul, European envoys demanded inclusion in the negotiating framework and proposed a clause dubbed “snapback-plus,” reported the daily saying that it would allow them to unilaterally reimpose sanctions if they deemed Iran noncompliant—regardless of US-Iran terms.

“This request was non-technical, illegal, and couched in inappropriate language,” Farhikhtegan wrote.

Iran’s former president Mohammad Khatami voiced rare public backing for ongoing diplomatic efforts, urging officials to maintain dialogue not only with the international community but also with the Iranian public.

“Dialogue that is now underway in foreign relations to resolve fundamental problems is truly commendable and deserves support,” Khatami said.

“I hope the crucial matter of dialogue—with the world and with our own people—will be pursued as a strategic approach and yield positive results,” added Khatami.
"Iran is not only not the leading or superior power in the region in terms of science, economy, politics, and security, but many of our rivals have significantly surpassed us."