Baku:Azerbaijan has declared 14 Iranian citizens persona non grata, banning them from entering the country due to their alleged promotion of hostility and calls against Azerbaijan. This decision follows a surge in what Azerbaijan describes as unfounded accusations and hostile rhetoric from Iranian citizens and media outlets.
According to Azeri-Press news agency, the individuals targeted include religious figures, members of parliament, experts, and media representatives from Iran. These individuals have reportedly made statements and calls that challenge Azerbaijan’s sovereignty, security, governance, and state-religion relations, while promoting religious radicalism and inciting hostility.
The list of banned individuals includes Ehsan Movahedian, a political analyst and lecturer; Ahmad Farshbafian, former head of a university center; Kamran Ghazanfari and other members of Iran’s Islamic Consultative Assembly; and high-profile figures such as Ayatollah Mohsen Araki and Ayatollah Mohammad Javad Fazel Lankarani. These actions reflect the growing tensions between Azerbaijan and Iran, centering around issues of sovereignty and regional influence.