Israel Defence Minister, Yoav Gallant is on a visit to Azerbaijan to strengthen ties between countries and reinforcing shared opposition to Iran.
Gallant and Azerbaijani officials agreed to work together to deter threats from Iran, the Israeli defence ministry said. Israel views Iran as its archenemy, while Azerbaijan, which borders Iran to the north, also has a rocky relationship with Iran.
“We have many shared challenges – in particular the fight against terrorism – which not only threatens national security but also aims to destabilize the region,” said Gallant in Baku, Azerbaijan. “Together, we may further deepen the ties between our countries and strengthen the cooperation between our defense establishments and our forces.”
Israel considers Iran to be its greatest threat, citing Iran’s calls for Israel’s destruction and its support of hostile militant groups. It also accuses Iran of trying to develop a nuclear bomb — a claim that Iran denies.
Israel has repeatedly threatened to take military action against Iran, and Iran has accused Israel of involvement in a series of mysterious attacks on Iranian nuclear scientists and installations.