Baku: "It is surprising that the Ministry of Intelligence of the Islamic Republic of Iran has included several foreign media outlets, including Azerbaijan's state television channel AzTV, in its list of 'enemy media organizations' and threatened individuals cooperating with these outlets with criminal liability," the Media Development Agency said in a statement, APA reports.

According to Azeri-Press News Agency, the statement further emphasizes Azerbaijan's commitment to protecting the professional activities of journalists while ensuring reciprocity. Citing Article 11.4 of the Republic of Azerbaijan's Law 'On Media,' the statement highlights that if other states impose special restrictions on journalists included in the Media Register, Azerbaijan may impose similar restrictions on journalists from those states.

The statement also addressed the activities of Iran's 'Sahar' TV channel and Mehr News Agency, declaring their operations illegal within Azerbaijan due to their actions against Azerbaijan's national interests. This includes propaganda against the country's sovereignty, constitutional order, territorial integrity, and national security.

The Media Development Agency urged all media entities and journalists in Azerbaijan to avoid cooperation with these organizations and their affiliates. It reiterated that international media cooperation should be based on mutual respect and the professional independence of journalists.