The tensions in the Middle East are rising these days as Iran and Azerbaijan come closer to a military offensive that could spur war any time soon.
Both the countries share a 765 Km long border, which is hosting the military conflict these days.
The Iran military is busy training for war near the border, depicting its will to attack Azerbaijan if the situation does not come back to normalcy.
As the region stands on the brink of war, the responsibility lies on the shoulders of the global powers to ease the situation through diplomatic efforts.
While the US can do little to ease down the tensions, the UN can still help in stopping the crisis from escalation.
The situation is so intense that Iran has stuffed its borders with tanks and helicopters.
Iran-Azerbaijan Conflict: Israel is the Bone of Contention
The increasing ties between Azerbaijan and Israel are the bone of contention of the newly emerging conflict. Israel and Iran are regarded as arch-rivals, and the politics of the Middle East revolve around them.
Currently, Israel is providing military and strategic logistics to Azerbaijan, which is helping the country to have the upper hand in the conflict.
Due to this Israeli support, Azerbaijan managed to defeat Armenia in the last year’s military engagement in the recent Azerbaijan-Armenia 44-day long conflict.
The Iranian Foreign minister has also clarified that Iran will not tolerate any “Zionist regime” on its border, as Iran considers it a national security threat.
The United States and the UN should seek peace between both countries, as the outbreak of any crisis could result in a domino effect.
If Iran and Azerbaijan come face to face, the involvement of Israel in the war will become inevitable for the survival of Azerbaijan.
This is due to the fact that Israel supplied $825 million worth of weaponry to Azerbaijan between 2006 to 2019. Iran perceives this aid as a security threat for itself, which is encouraging it to accumulate its army along the border.
This arms sale could be intensified in case of any conflict, which could then trigger Iran to flood more resources to its border.
Diplomacy is the Key to Success in this Conflict
Iran is also blaming Azerbaijan for its alleged ties with ISIS fighters, saying that the country incorporated such fighters to deal with Armenia.
As the US has no diplomatic ties with Iran, the possibility of direct diplomacy remains nonexistent. However, back-channel diplomacy always remains an option in international relations where direct diplomacy may tend to fail.
The president of Azerbaijan expressed his concerns about the rising military buildup on the border, saying that his country is shocked over the recent escalation.
Israel is seeking a regional partner in the Middle East region after Saudi Arabia and Iran have started talking about establishing bilateral ties.
Saudi Arabia was considered an ally of Israel in the region; however, the US abandonment of the Islamic Republic has also strained the relations between Israel and the Saudis.
This has encouraged Israel to establish ties with the likes of Azerbaijan so that the Jewish state can counter the rising Iranian influence in the region.
Final Thoughts
Israel’s bid to enhance its ties with Islamic countries in the region is troubling Iran, enabling them to spread Israeli influence. Israel recently strengthened its ties with Bahrain, which is warning Iran against any overt or severe actions.
All of this combined is the reason behind Iranian social conservatism, enabling the Islamic regime to build up military assets on its Azerbaijan border.
The UN Security Council can pass a resolution to stop any potential buildup on the border, as the Iran-Israel conflict has the potential to go nuclear.
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