Iran strengthens border with Azerbaijan

According to reliable information from Tabriz, the Iranian regime has recently begun to strengthen its military positions bordering Turkey and even more so along the Iranian-Azerbaijani border.

Pundits attribute these emergency military measures to possible US war against Iraq, the raising of ethnic problems in South (Iranian) Azerbaijan to the agendas of international organizations and enhanced US and Israeli influence in Turkey and Azerbaijan.

It is also claimed that the number Ardabil army personnel in charge of protecting the main Iranian-Azerbaijani border has been increased from 3,500 to 16,000 and a 280 strong special force has been added. F-5 and Miq-29 jets have been brought to combat readiness. The Sardurud defense staff located 10km from Tabriz have been provided with rockets and missiles. The Iranian armed forces have also been brought to combat readiness in the Naxcivan and Qarabag sections of the border with Azerbaijan. Moreover, an armored unit in Qazvin is ready to quell possible internal rioting in cities populated by Turkic and Kurdish speaking communities in South Azerbaijan.

Intelligence devices have been installed in the Bilasuvar, Astara and Julfa regions of the South Azerbaijan to control mobile and wireline telephone talks in a 300-km distance from the border.

Furthermore, mobile bridges in the Iranian-Azerbaijani border to ensure the passage of armored forces and tanks have been made ready. These mobile bridges can be fixed in any section of the Araz river in five minutes. Combat readiness activities have also been carried out in the Hamadan military airport, Rasht airport and Enzali port. The Rasht and Enzali military staff have been supplied with Jet-Ranger 206 intelligence helicopters.

This information was furnished by the South Azerbaijan National Freedom Movement. According to the movement, in total, the Iranian army consists of 700,000 personnel. Though South Azerbaijan constitutes 13 per cent of the Iranian territory, 25 per cent of the army has been deployed in this region.