Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has stated that Baku denies statements about Israel's engagement in Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh), on the border with Iran. In an interview with la Repubblica daily of Italy, Aliyev called such statements a "delusion," RIA Novosti reported.

The Iranian authorities suspect that Azerbaijan is closely collaborating with Israel. Tehran has accused Israel of trying to reach the Iranian border via Azerbaijan by trying to take advantage of the current situation in Nagorno-Karabakh, as well as provoking a conflict in Baku-Tehran relations.

"We deny all the accusations made against Azerbaijan in connection with allegedly inviting Israel to the liberated lands. This is a delusion. It is just an excuse to discredit Azerbaijan, calculated for the domestic society. Everyone can go and become convinced that there is no life there. Everything is destroyed. Second, we [i.e., Azerbaijan] demand that they respect us as we respect others," Aliyev said.

Thus, the president of Azerbaijan contradicts himself. Earlier, he was boasting that many companies from all over the world were engaged in the restoration of the territories, but now he says whoever wants can go and become convinced that there is no life there. It seems Baku has something to hide.