Azerbaijan recalls ambassador to Iran

PanARMENIAN.Net - Reports from Azerbaijan say the government has recalled its ambassador to Iran "for consultations."

The move to recall Ambassador Cavansir Ahundov follows Iran's decision last week to recall its ambassador to Baku, also for consultations.

On May 29, the Iranian Embassy in Baku said Azerbaijani authorities had prevented a senior Iranian official from entering Azerbaijan.

Azerbaijani officials are meanwhile reported to have asked Iran to clarify the whereabouts of two young Azeri poets who were allegedly detained in the Iranian city of Tabriz.

Tensions between the Islamic republic and Azerbaijan have escalated in recent months, after Azerbaijani authorities arrested a number of men with alleged links to Iran who were reportedly plotting attacks in Azerbaijan.

Ties have also been strained recently over reported closer ties between Azerbaijan and Iranian rival Israel, according to RFE/RL.