Azerbaijan Bans Two Major Iranian Media Outlets Amid Rising Regional Tensions

On Wednesday evening, Azerbaijan announced a ban on two prominent Iranian media organizations operating within its borders. This move was a direct response to Iran's Intelligence Ministry designating the Azerbaijani state channel as hostile and prohibiting its activities in Iran. The Azerbaijani government specified that the ban targets the Iranian television channel "Sahar" and the news agency "Mehr," including a prohibition on their representatives' presence in Azerbaijan.

The Azerbaijani Communications Development Agency accused these Iranian media outlets of conducting propaganda against Azerbaijan's sovereignty, constitutional order, territorial integrity, and national security. This decision reflects ongoing diplomatic and regional tensions, particularly in light of recent international reports highlighting strategic and security collaborations in the area.

Last month, CNN revealed that Israel had secretly deployed elite units in Azerbaijan during its conflict with Iran. These special forces operated from multiple locations in southern Azerbaijan, near Iran's northern border and approximately 96 kilometers from the city of Tabriz. The units conducted intelligence gathering and drone operations, providing Israel with critical surveillance capabilities deep inside Iranian territory during the confrontation.