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The Seattle Times, WA
Feb 27 2012
Israel to sell $1.6 billion in arms to Iran's neighbor Azerbaijan
The sales come at a delicate time. Israel has been laboring hard to
form diplomatic alliances in a region that seems to be growing
increasingly hostile to the Jewish state.
By AMY TEIBEL
The Associated Press
JERUSALEM - Israeli defense officials Sunday confirmed $1.6 billion in
deals to sell drones as well as anti-aircraft and missile-defense
systems to Azerbaijan, bringing sophisticated Israeli technology to
the doorstep of archenemy Iran.
The sales by state-run Israel Aerospace Industries come at a delicate
time. Israel has been laboring hard to form diplomatic alliances in a
region that seems to be growing increasingly hostile to the Jewish
state.
Its most pressing concern is Iran's nuclear program, and Israeli
leaders have hinted broadly they would be prepared to attack Iranian
nuclear facilities if they see no other way to keep Iran from building
bombs.
Iran denies Israeli and Western claims it seeks to develop atomic
weapons, and says its disputed nuclear program is designed to produce
energy and medical isotopes.
In Jerusalem, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Iran's nuclear
program will take center stage in talks with U.S. and Canadian
leaders. He is to meet with Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper in
Ottawa on Friday and with President Obama in Washington on March 5.
Speaking to the Israeli Cabinet on Sunday, Netanyahu said a U.N.
nuclear agency's report last week buttressed Israel's warnings that
Iran is trying to produce a nuclear bomb. The agency said Iran has
rapidly ramped up production of higher-grade enriched uranium over the
last few months.
It was not clear whether the arms deal with Azerbaijan was connected
to any potential Israeli plans to strike Iran. Israel's ties with
Azerbaijan, a Muslim country that became independent with the
disintegration of the Soviet Union, have grown as its once-strong
strategic relationship with another Iranian neighbor, Turkey, has
deteriorated, most sharply over Israel's killing of nine Turks aboard
a ship that sought to breach Israel's blockade of the Gaza Strip in
2010.
For Israeli intelligence, there is also a possible added benefit from
Azerbaijan: Its significant cross-border contacts and trade with
Iran's large ethnic Azeri community. The CIA World Factbook estimates
Iranian Azeris make up nearly 16 million, or 24 percent of Iran's
population.
As Iran's nuclear showdown with the West deepens, the Islamic Republic
sees the Azeri frontier as a weak point, even though both countries
are mostly Shiite Muslim.
This month, Iran's foreign ministry accused Azerbaijan of allowing the
Israeli spy agency Mossad to operate on its territory and providing a
corridor for "terrorists" to kill members of Iranian nuclear
scientists.
Israeli leaders have hinted at covert campaigns against Iran without
directly admitting involvement.
Israel, meanwhile, recently claimed authorities foiled
Iranian-sponsored attacks against Israeli targets in Azerbaijan. Iran
has denied Azerbaijan's latest charges of plotting to kill Israelis,
but a diplomatic rupture is unlikely. Azerbaijan is an important path
for Iranian goods in the Caucasus region, and both nations have signed
accords among Caspian nations on energy, environmental and shipping
policies.
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2017606201_azerbaijan27.html
Feb 27 2012
Israel to sell $1.6 billion in arms to Iran's neighbor Azerbaijan
The sales come at a delicate time. Israel has been laboring hard to
form diplomatic alliances in a region that seems to be growing
increasingly hostile to the Jewish state.
By AMY TEIBEL
The Associated Press
JERUSALEM - Israeli defense officials Sunday confirmed $1.6 billion in
deals to sell drones as well as anti-aircraft and missile-defense
systems to Azerbaijan, bringing sophisticated Israeli technology to
the doorstep of archenemy Iran.
The sales by state-run Israel Aerospace Industries come at a delicate
time. Israel has been laboring hard to form diplomatic alliances in a
region that seems to be growing increasingly hostile to the Jewish
state.
Its most pressing concern is Iran's nuclear program, and Israeli
leaders have hinted broadly they would be prepared to attack Iranian
nuclear facilities if they see no other way to keep Iran from building
bombs.
Iran denies Israeli and Western claims it seeks to develop atomic
weapons, and says its disputed nuclear program is designed to produce
energy and medical isotopes.
In Jerusalem, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Iran's nuclear
program will take center stage in talks with U.S. and Canadian
leaders. He is to meet with Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper in
Ottawa on Friday and with President Obama in Washington on March 5.
Speaking to the Israeli Cabinet on Sunday, Netanyahu said a U.N.
nuclear agency's report last week buttressed Israel's warnings that
Iran is trying to produce a nuclear bomb. The agency said Iran has
rapidly ramped up production of higher-grade enriched uranium over the
last few months.
It was not clear whether the arms deal with Azerbaijan was connected
to any potential Israeli plans to strike Iran. Israel's ties with
Azerbaijan, a Muslim country that became independent with the
disintegration of the Soviet Union, have grown as its once-strong
strategic relationship with another Iranian neighbor, Turkey, has
deteriorated, most sharply over Israel's killing of nine Turks aboard
a ship that sought to breach Israel's blockade of the Gaza Strip in
2010.
For Israeli intelligence, there is also a possible added benefit from
Azerbaijan: Its significant cross-border contacts and trade with
Iran's large ethnic Azeri community. The CIA World Factbook estimates
Iranian Azeris make up nearly 16 million, or 24 percent of Iran's
population.
As Iran's nuclear showdown with the West deepens, the Islamic Republic
sees the Azeri frontier as a weak point, even though both countries
are mostly Shiite Muslim.
This month, Iran's foreign ministry accused Azerbaijan of allowing the
Israeli spy agency Mossad to operate on its territory and providing a
corridor for "terrorists" to kill members of Iranian nuclear
scientists.
Israeli leaders have hinted at covert campaigns against Iran without
directly admitting involvement.
Israel, meanwhile, recently claimed authorities foiled
Iranian-sponsored attacks against Israeli targets in Azerbaijan. Iran
has denied Azerbaijan's latest charges of plotting to kill Israelis,
but a diplomatic rupture is unlikely. Azerbaijan is an important path
for Iranian goods in the Caucasus region, and both nations have signed
accords among Caspian nations on energy, environmental and shipping
policies.
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2017606201_azerbaijan27.html