(8 May 2023)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY: No use by BBC Persian, VOA Persian, Manoto TV, Iran International
ASSOCIATED PRESS IRAN - No use by BBC Persian, VOA Persian, Manoto TV, Iran International
Tehran, Iran - 8 May 2023
1. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani approaching lectern prior to regular briefing
2. Camera operators
3. Wide of briefing
4. SOUNDBITE (Farsi) Nasser Kanaani, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman:
"The Islamic Republic of Iran, in response to the nonconstructive move by the republic of Azerbaijan, made a quid pro quo move within the framework of diplomacy and expelled four Azerbaijani diplomats, including two members of their embassy in Tehran and two members of their consulate general in Tabriz, shortly after the move by the Azeri side. Therefore this has happened and can be confirmed."
5. Pan of briefing
STORYLINE:
Iran has confirmed expelling four Azeri diplomats amid ongoing tensions with neighboring Azerbaijan.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani confirmed the move on Monday that Iranian media had first reported on Friday.
Iran’s semiofficial news outlets have not provided details except to say that the four had been working in Azerbaijan’s Embassy in Tehran and its consulate in the northwestern city of Tabriz.
Last month, Azerbaijan expelled four Iranian diplomats from Baku.
Relations between Tehran and Baku, long chilly, soured further after a gunman in January stormed Azerbaijan’s embassy in Iran’s capital, killing its security chief and wounding two guards.
Azerbaijan accuses Iran of supporting hard-line Islamists who tried to overthrow the government in Baku, a charge Tehran denies.
Relations between the two also are tense because Azerbaijan in March opened an embassy in Israel. Iran has repeatedly opposed improving relations between Azerbaijan and Israel.
Iran and Israel see each other as archenemies.
AP video shot by Saeed Sarmadi
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