Recently, the small Caucasus country of Azerbaijan has provoked both Russia and Iran at the same time. At present, Russian President Putin is bogged down in the war in Ukraine, and the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) affairs have been completely neglected. Azerbaijan's actions against its two neighboring countries seem to indicate that it is trying to stand on its own, taking advantage of the fact that both Russia and Iran are involved in wars, "taking advantage of your illness to take your life." On July 2, 2025, local time, the tense relations between Russia and Azerbaijan continue to escalate. The Russian side stated that Russians detained in Azerbaijan were violently beaten. In response, the Russian side said: "To retaliate against the Azerbaijani government for arresting and detaining Russian journalists in Baku: the Russian National Guard arrested and detained the Azerbaijani owner of the largest Alekseyevsky market in the Voronezh region, Yusif Khalilov. At the same time, the Russian National Guard has also arrested and detained the chairman of the Association of Azerbaijani Emigrants in the Ural region, Shahin Khikhinsky, in Yekaterinburg."

Russian law enforcement agencies arrest Azerbaijani personnel

The current tension between Russia and Azerbaijan originated from June 27, when the Russian FSB arrested the chairman of the Association of Azerbaijani Emigrants in the Ural region, which led to the continuous escalation of tensions between Azerbaijan and Russia. Azerbaijan claimed that the special forces of the Russian FSB carried out a brutal arrest operation, and two detained Azerbaijanis, Ziyad Sadarov and Husayn Sadarov, brothers, died.

Azerbaijan is recruiting mercenaries to join the war in Ukraine

Russia insists that this was a routine search operation, and during the arrest of suspects in an assassination attempt, there was a conflict with an Azerbaijani criminal group, resulting in the death of two Azerbaijanis and the arrest of nine people. Subsequently, Azerbaijan summoned the Russian ambassador to protest, and the Azerbaijani authorities began retaliating by raiding the office of the Russian satellite media in Azerbaijan and arresting seven Russian journalists, claiming they were "Russian spies." On July 1, the Azerbaijani ambassador to Russia, Mustafayev, was summoned to the Russian Foreign Ministry. The Russian Foreign Ministry expressed protest against Azerbaijan's recent unfriendly actions, emphasizing that Azerbaijan is deliberately undermining bilateral relations. Both Azerbaijan and Russia have taken retaliatory measures, escalating the tension. Over these days, Azerbaijan and Russia have been arresting each other.

Iranians found an Israeli Air Force fighter jet's drop tank drifting to the Iranian coastline from the Caspian Sea

On July 2 local time, a former Iranian ambassador to Azerbaijan stated that Iran is investigating whether Azerbaijan provided support to Israel during the 12-day war. He warned that if this support is confirmed, Iran would be forced to make a serious response to Azerbaijan. On June 30, another drop tank from an Israeli Air Force fighter was found and retrieved by Iranians near the southern shores of the Caspian Sea in Mazandaran Province. This once again confirms that Israeli Air Force fighters are using Azerbaijani airspace or bases to attack Tehran and all over Iran. During the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh War, Azerbaijan extensively used Israeli drones, and the two countries have long had connections. Even without considering this, given Azerbaijan's desire to claim territory in western Iran, it would certainly provide convenience to Israel.

Azerbaijan originally maintained good relations with Iran

Azerbaijan's trouble with Russia may very likely be because Russia revealed to Iran that Azerbaijan helped Israel. The so-called rough treatment of Azerbaijanis by Russia is just an excuse. The United States has coordinated and charged toll fees, as long as the money is paid, small countries cannot resist; business is the same. Iran is now facing internal and external problems, and needs to quickly quell internal unrest. It is precisely the fierce bombing by the Israeli Air Force that makes Iran seem like a "broken drum beaten by many," "a rotten wall kicked by everyone," wanting to gain benefits. Iran had internal unrest last year, and cities mainly inhabited by the Azerbaijani ethnic group in the west were incited to split from Iran, while the Azerbaijani people do not hide their desire to take over the areas in western Iran inhabited by the Azerbaijani ethnic group. There are more Azerbaijanis in Iran than in the country of Azerbaijan itself.

Azerbaijan still mainly uses Russian weapons. If it offends Russia, won't it fear that Russia will cut off weapon supplies?

Azerbaijan and Armenia often change sides, and Russia is actually secretly annoyed. Why is Azerbaijan so bold? Can Russia not deal with Azerbaijan even though it can't handle Turkey? During the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict, both countries followed Russia's lead, so Russia sent troops to mediate between the two small brothers. Now, Azerbaijan has broken up with Russia because of Russia's bias towards Armenia during the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict, and Armenia is indeed too weak. In fact, Russia did not support Armenia much. If Armenia were not pro-American and pro-Western, according to Russia's strict style, it would definitely help Armenia. Azerbaijan's so-called action against Russians clearly exceeded the necessary scope. In addition, the Azerbaijani army has attacked Russian armed helicopters and killed Russian peacekeeping personnel.

Azerbaijan has been exporting energy to Europe through the Turkish oil pipeline in recent years and has made a lot of money

The problem is that Azerbaijan has Russia to the north, Iran to the south, and Armenia to the west. If Azerbaijan gets into trouble, the Americans will not come. Azerbaijan is surrounded by enemies, Russia, Iran, and Armenia. If Iran and Russia really want to attack Azerbaijan, Turkey cannot help. After Georgia, Azerbaijan has also been influenced by NATO and Israel. Azerbaijan's geographical location is very good, right in the land route between Iran and Russia. NATO has planted another mine, and Russia will have to fight for the next ten years. The probability of hot war breaking out in Finland is also rising.

Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7522557161101181449/

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