Category: Azer News

Western countries sought to turn the protests in Iran into a civil war, the Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said during the speech at the mausoleum of the founder of the Islamic Revolution of Iran, Ruhollah Khomeini, in Tehran on January 31, Azernews reports, citing Trend.

According to him, they tried to turn the protests into violence, terror, and destruction of state property, abusing public demands. However, there is no legal basis for attacks on law enforcement officers and service centers.

Pezeshkian stated that the Iranian government, aware of its responsibility, considers it its duty to heed the voices of protesters and resolve their issues.

‘The loyalty of Iranian citizens to the government has always neutralized plans to divide society. However, this issue should not cause those in charge to forget their duty. Those in charge must reorient their behavior towards citizens and their work to counter the plans of malicious actors who turn protests into hatred,’ he noted.

Since late December, protests have erupted in response to the sharp devaluation of Iran’s national currency, the rial, alongside escalating inflation and other pressing economic challenges. The unrest has led to a tragic toll of 3,117 lives lost, with significant damage to public property.

Any conflict in the Middle East would have serious regional repercussions, Ali Shamkhani, an adviser to Iran’s Supreme Leader, said in an interview with Lebanon’s Al Mayadeen television channel, Azernews reports

According to Shamkhani, any spark could quickly turn into a fire that spirals out of control.

He stressed that Iran’s current priority is to be fully prepared to respond to any potential threat.

The senior official noted that Tehran understands the geography of the region, its own capabilities, and its defense potential better than any external force.

Shamkhani also warned countries adopting what he described as unfriendly positions toward Iran against provoking escalation. ‘Any action reflecting hostile intentions toward Iran will be met with an appropriate, effective, and deterrent response,’ he said.

He added that Iran does not limit the geography of a possible confrontation to the maritime domain alone, noting that the country has already prepared broader and more technologically advanced scenarios.

The launch of fuel supplies from Azerbaijan is supporting market sentiment in Armenia, according to a report by the Netherlands-based ING banking group, Azernews informs.

The report notes that the ongoing normalization of foreign relations-most notably the recent start of fuel deliveries from Azerbaijan-has had a positive impact on market confidence. ING assesses Armenia’s macroeconomic outlook for 2026 favorably, citing improvements in the geopolitical environment and stability of the national currency as key factors.

“The continued normalization of foreign policy, including the recent commencement of fuel supplies from Azerbaijan, is supporting market sentiment. We view Armenia’s macroeconomic outlook for 2026 positively. An improved geopolitical environment and currency stability create favorable conditions for inflation dynamics in 2026,” the report states.

It is worth recalling that on October 21, 2025, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, in a joint press statement with President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, emphasized that Azerbaijan had lifted all restrictions on cargo transit toward Armenia that had been in place since the occupation period. The first shipment to use this route was a consignment of wheat sent from Kazakhstan to Armenia.

On December 18, the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan Republic (SOCAR) delivered 1,220 tons of AI-95 grade gasoline to Armenia.

Subsequently, on January 9, 2026, a total of 2,698 tons of cargo-transported in 48 railway wagons-was delivered to Armenia. Of this volume, 1,742 tons consisted of AI-95 gasoline, while 956 tons were diesel fuel.

Oil production has resumed at the Tengiz oil field in Kazakhstan, Azernews reports, citing the country’s Ministry of Energy.

The first well, GZU-52, was successfully brought back into operation. Technological facilities at the Production and Booster Facility (PBF) have been restarted and are currently operating under normal conditions.

At present, five wells have been put back into service. Technical teams from Tengizchevroil are continuing preparations to commission the GZU-53 group metering unit. Production volumes will be increased gradually as system parameters stabilize and full operational safety is ensured.

Earlier, on January 26, the Second Generation Plant (SGP) was also successfully restarted. The plant is currently operating using feedstock supplied from the already active Korolevskoye field.

The Ministry of Energy of Kazakhstan and the national oil company KazMunayGas are providing comprehensive support to the operator to help the project reach its planned capacity as quickly as possible. To ensure direct coordination of restoration efforts at production sites, Deputy Energy Minister Kairkhan Tutkysbayev is currently present at the facilities.

It should be recalled that in January, oil production was suspended at the Tengiz and Korolevskoye fields located in the Atyrau region. The decision was taken due to issues affecting certain energy distribution systems at industrial facilities.

The ‘Yks?lis’ competition continues to expand its initiatives aimed at enriching the personal development and worldviews of its winners, introducing a new series of programs in the first half of 2026. Azernews reports that within this framework, the Literature Support Fund hosted a series of meetings under the title ‘Yks?lis at the Writer’s House.’

According to the competition’s Working Group, the series is designed to deepen understanding among leaders of key concepts emphasized by President Ilham Aliyev, including the promotion of Azerbaijani identity, the advancement of national culture, and the preservation of moral and national values. Particular attention is given to the Azerbaijani language, which the President has highlighted as a cornerstone of national identity, statehood, and strategic governance. In this context, the language is recognized not only as a tool for communication but also as a carrier of national ideology and intellectual responsibility.

The inaugural session of the series brought together prominent figures, including Farah Aliyeva, Head of the Department of Humanitarian Policy, Diaspora, Multiculturalism, and Religious Affairs of the Presidential Administration and Chairperson of the ‘Yks?lis’ Organizing Committee; ADA University Rector Hafiz Pashayev; founders of the ‘Writer’s House,’ philologist and literature scholar Professor Edibe Pashayeva and literary scholar Professor Tahsin Mutallimov; and Farhad Hajiyev, Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports and Head of the ‘Yks?lis’ Working Group.

The event opened with remarks by Shafag Mehraliyeva, Executive Director of the ‘Writer’s House,’ who provided detailed information on the project’s objectives and content. She noted that the sessions would feature expert speakers from the Writer’s House, who would analyze the influence of literature, language, and national heritage on leadership and governance from both scientific and practical perspectives.

The first meeting featured a presentation by academician Nizami Jafarov on ‘The Ideological Foundations of the Azerbaijani Language.’ The session brought together the winners of the ‘Yks?lis’ competition and members of the Working Group at the Writer’s House, located in Icherisheher, which is the former residence of Mir Jalal, a prominent 20th-century Azerbaijani writer, scholar, and educator.

Academician Jafarov delivered an in-depth discussion on the historical development, ideological significance, and state-building importance of the Azerbaijani language, sharing his insights with the winners. The session also included an interactive discussion during which participants’ questions were addressed, fostering an engaging and dynamic exchange of ideas.

Established by a decree signed by President Ilham Aliyev on July 26, 2019, the ‘Yks?lis’ competition provides winners with a one-year personal development plan guided by mentors, alongside a monetary award of 20,000 Azerbaijani manats for self-improvement.

The sixth edition of the ‘Yks?lis’ competition was formally approved by a presidential decree on December 10, 2025, continuing a legacy of nurturing the next generation of Azerbaijani leaders and intellectuals.

The price of Azerbaijan’s Azeri Light crude oil at Italy’s Augusta port increased on a CIF basis, rising by $0.46, or 0.63 percent, compared with the previous level, to $73.35 per barrel, according to sources in the oil market, Azernews reports.

Meanwhile, at Trkiye’s Ceyhan port, the price of Azeri Light on an FOB basis also posted gains. A barrel of Azeri Light rose by $0.43, or 0.61 percent, to reach $70.74.

In parallel, the price of Urals crude oil climbed by $0.46, or 1.10 percent, compared with the previous trading session, reaching $42.10 per barrel.

The price of Dated Brent crude, produced in the North Sea, also moved higher. It increased by $0.35, or 0.48 percent, to $72.71 per barrel.

It is worth noting that Azerbaijan’s 2026 state budget is based on an assumed average oil price of $65 per barrel, meaning current market prices remain comfortably above the budget benchmark.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer wrapped up a four-day trip to China on Saturday, after his bid to forge closer ties prompted warnings from US President Donald Trump, Azernews reports, citing Arab News.

Starmer’s visit was the first to China by a British prime minister in eight years, following in the footsteps of other Western leaders looking to counter an increasingly volatile United States.

Leaders from France, Canada and Finland have flocked to Beijing in recent weeks, recoiling from Trump’s bid to seize Greenland and tariff threats against NATO allies.

Trump warned on Thursday it was ‘very dangerous’ for Britain to be dealing with China.

Starmer brushed off those comments on Friday, noting that Trump was also expected to visit China in the months ahead.

The US and the UK are very close allies, and that’s why we discussed the visit with his team before we came,’ Starmer said in an interview with UK television.

‘I don’t think it is wise for the UK to stick its head in the sand. China is the second-largest economy in the world,’ he said.

Asked about Trump’s comments on Friday, Beijing’s foreign ministry said ‘China is willing to strengthen cooperation with all countries in the spirit of mutual benefit and win-win results.’

Starmer met top Chinese leaders, including President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang, on Thursday, with both sides highlighting the need for closer ties.

He told business representatives from Britain and China on Friday that both sides had ‘warmly engaged’ and ‘made some real progress.’

‘The UK has got a huge amount to offer,’ he said in a short speech at the UK-China Business Forum at the Bank of China.

He signed a series of agreements on Thursday, with Downing Street announcing Beijing had agreed to visa-free travel for British citizens visiting China for under 30 days, although Starmer acknowledged there was no start date for the arrangement yet.

The Chinese foreign ministry said only that it was ‘actively considering’ the visa deal and would ‘make it public at an appropriate time upon completing the necessary procedures.’

He also said Beijing had lifted sanctions on UK lawmakers targeted since 2021 for their criticism of alleged human rights abuses against China’s Muslim Uyghur minority.

‘President Xi said to me that that means all parliamentarians are welcome,’ Starmer said in an interview with UK television.

He traveled from Beijing to economic powerhouse Shanghai, where he spoke with Chinese students at the Shanghai International College of Fashion and Innovation, a joint institute between Donghua University and the University of Edinburgh.

On Saturday, Starmer visited a design institute and met with performing arts students alongside British actress Rosamund Pike, who spoke of her children’s experience learning Mandarin.

Later on Saturday, Starmer will arrive in Tokyo for a meeting with Japanese counterpart Sanae Takaichi.

Visas and whisky

The visa deal could bring Britain in line with about 50 other countries granted visa-free travel, including France, Germany, Australia and Japan, and follows a similar agreement made between China and Canada this month.

The agreements signed included cooperation on targeting supply chains used by migrant smugglers, as well as on British exports to China, health and strengthening a bilateral trade commission.

China also agreed to halve tariffs on British whisky to five percent, according to Downing Street.

British companies sealed £2.2 billion ($3 billion) in export deals and around £2.3 billion in ‘market access wins’ over five years, and ‘hundreds of millions worth of investments,’ Starmer’s government said in a statement.

Xi told Starmer on Thursday that their countries should strengthen dialogue and cooperation in the context of a ‘complex and intertwined’ international situation.

Relations between China and Britain deteriorated from 2020 when Beijing imposed a national security law on Hong Kong and cracked down on pro-democracy activists in the former British colony.

However, China remains Britain’s third-largest trading partner, and Starmer is hoping deals with Beijing will help fulfil his primary goal of boosting UK economic growth.

British pharmaceutical group AstraZeneca said on Thursday it would invest $15 billion in China through 2030 to expand its medicines manufacturing and research.

And China’s Pop Mart, makers of the wildly popular Labubu dolls, said it would set up a regional hub in London and open 27 stores across Europe in the coming year, including up to seven in Britain.

On January 31, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev made a phone call to President of the Islamic Republic of Iran Masoud Pezeshkian.

During the conversation, the sides reaffirmed that relations between Azerbaijan and Iran are built upon the principles of friendship, brotherhood, and good-neighborliness, underscored by the deep historical, ethnic, and religious bonds shared by their peoples.

During the phone call, the heads of state reflected favorably on the Iranian President’s previous visits to Azerbaijan and the productive negotiations held during their meetings, noting that these high-level interactions have significantly contributed to the development of bilateral relations. They also highlighted that the construction of the Aghband-Kelaleh highway bridge over the Araz River is proceeding according to schedule.

The head of state expressed concern regarding the current situation in the region, stating that Azerbaijan is ready to contribute to de-escalating tensions. He emphasized that Azerbaijan advocates for resolving such issues through dialogue and mutual understanding.

For his part, President Masoud Pezeshkian expressed his gratitude to President Ilham Aliyev.

During the conversation, the sides exchanged views on various aspects of the friendly and brotherly ties between the two countries and on future joint steps. They agreed to continue further contacts.

Pakistan’s security forces have killed more than 70 militants in operations carried out over the past two days in the Balochistan province, Azernews reports, citing Pakistani media outlets.

Pakistani media noted that armed groups attempted to carry out attacks in several areas of the province, but these attempts were successfully thwarted by security forces.

The ‘Fitna al-Hindustan’ group, which authorities say is linked to India, carried out attacks at 12 locations across Balochistan. As a result of these attacks, 10 members of Pakistan’s security forces were killed.

Citing a source within the security agencies, Dawn added that a total of 88 militants were killed in Balochistan over the past 48 hours.

The 61st Venice Biennale will feature the project “The Attention” by People’s Artist Faig Ahmad, organized by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation of Azerbaijan, with the support of the Culture Ministry and the Embassy of Azerbaijan in Italy, Azernews reports.

The exhibition at the Azerbaijani national pavilion will be open from May 9 to November 22.

“The Attention” is Azerbaijan’s contribution to one of the most significant international platforms for contemporary art.

At the center of the pavilion, a carpet, which is a key and recurring element in Faig Ahmad’s artistic practice, will be presented. The carpet, associated with cultural memory and collective identity, becomes an element guiding visitors throughout the exhibition.

Conceptually, the project is inspired by the philosophical and poetic heritage of the prominent Azerbaijani poet and thinker, a representative of the Hurufi tradition, Imadaddin Nasimi. The project is envisioned as an immersive, multimodal artistic environment that unfolds through a sequence of interconnected spaces.

The project addresses themes of inner consciousness and reconnection in response to the uncertainty, anxiety, and information overload that characterize the modern world – here, art is seen as something that can arise from chaos.

“The Attention” integrates advanced technologies, including quantum-based systems, as well as neuro-reactive and data-driven processes, alongside traditional approaches. In this context, Hurufi thought and contemporary quantum concepts of reality are presented in direct parallel. While Hurufism frames the world as a meaningful code made of letters and signs, quantum physics describes reality as probabilistic, informational, and interconnected. In both systems, reality is not a fixed entity but forms through interpretation, interaction, and attention. “The Attention” clearly demonstrates this parallel, presenting quantum information as the modern counterpart to the Hurufi understanding of the universe.

The curator of Azerbaijan’s national pavilion at the 61st Venice Biennale will be Gwendolyn Collaço. Her research and curatorial expertise focus on Islamic art, material culture, and cross-cultural exchange.