Iran summons Baku envoy over Azerbaijan’s arms deal with Israel

TEHRAN,March 1(MNA) – In a meeting held on Wednesday at the invitation of Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi, Azerbaijani Ambassador to Tehran Javanshir Akhundov explained about the arms deal between the Zionist regime and Azerbaian. The meeting was held in response to reports that Azerbaijan had signed a $1.6 billion deal with Israel for the purchase of drones and anti-aircraft and missile systems. Ambassador Akhundov explained that the weapons were being purchased to liberate the “occupied” lands of Azerbaijan. Iran warns Azerbaijan not to allow Israel to use the country’s territory as a launchpad to stage terrorist activities against the Islamic Republic, Araqchi said during the meeting. Akhundov emphasized that Baku would not allow the weapons to be used against any country, particularly Iran. Meanwhile, Israeli media outlets have reported that Angolan Finance Minister Carlos Alberto Lopes traveled to Israel last week to sign a military agreement. Reports say the Israeli-Angolan deal is worth about one billion dollars. And on February 16, Israeli officials said Tel Aviv had reached a “one-billion-dollar preliminary” agreement with Italy to buy 30 Italian military training jets.