Baku: President Ilham Aliyev emphasized Azerbaijan's role as a beacon of hope for many Azerbaijanis living in Iran during a recent Security Council meeting. He reiterated Azerbaijan's commitment to preventing any neighboring country from using its territory for hostile actions against Iran.

According to Azerbaijan State News Agency, President Aliyev addressed past tensions, highlighting that unfounded accusations were directed at Azerbaijan from Iran last year. He noted that these accusations were accompanied by a smear campaign through state-controlled media aimed at tarnishing Azerbaijan's image and swaying the perception of Azerbaijanis in Iran. President Aliyev asserted the independent Azerbaijani state remains a source of hope for these individuals amid regional challenges.