Azerbaijan And Syria In A Plot Against Iran Tehran Thinks So.

Syrian interim President Ahmad al-Sharaas visit to Baku last weekend highlighted a dramatic shift in regional alliances, prompting a mix of concern, suspicion, and strategic recalculation across Iranian media.

Official statements following Sharaas meeting with President Ilham Aliyev emphasized a new era in Syrian-Azerbaijani relations. Both leaders acknowledged past stagnation, directly blaming ousted President Bashar al-Assads unfriendly policy and pledged to restore and deepen cooperation.

Notably, the visit yielded a deal to export Azerbaijani gas to Syria via Turkey, with officials hailing the agreement as a needed remedy for Syrias chronic energy crisis.

Meanwhile, various outlets, including Israeli media, claimed that Syrian and Israeli officials met on the sidelines of the trip. Its unclear whether Sharaa attended the meeting, but the mere occurrence of such a meeting -- facilitated by Azerbaijan, Israels key ally in the region -- has further fueled concerns in Tehran.

Sharaa, a former insurgent known under the nom de guerre Abu Mohammed al-Jolani, joined forces with Turkishbacked rebels and, in December 2024, led his Hayat Tahrir alSham (HTS) faction in a lightning offensive that ultimately toppled the Iran and Russiabacked Assad government.

Security Challenges
A shared concern in Iranian media is what is seen as a shifting militant footprint from the Syrian battlefield to the Caucasus -- right on Irans doorstep.

Arman-e Melli, a pro-reform newspaper, argued that one aspect of the budding relationship between Damascus and Baku will involve the transfer of Syria-based fighters through Turkey into bases in Azerbaijan -- a potential development it described as a mission for Sharaa.

A Message To Iran
Israels i24NEWS network, citing an unnamed Syrian source,claimedthat Israel and the United States had made decision for Baku to host a meeting between Israeli and Syrian officials to send a message to Iran.

Referencing the report, Irans state broadcaster-run Jam-e Jam newspaper charged that given Bakus track record of alleged involvement in antiIranian operations over the years, and suspicions about its cooperation with Israel during the last months war, this could well be taken as clear evidence that some neighboring countries are working with Israel against Iran.

Jam-e Jam specifically named Azerbaijan and its allies Turkey and Israel as the countries involved in shaping new dynamics that work against Irans interests.

The paper argued that ultimately Iran will need to safeguard its national interests with both diplomatic and security savvy, including strengthening ties with neighbors such as Armenia and Russia, and taking a firm stand against Bakus provocations.