Iran-Azerbaijan Media Dispute Escalates as Tehran and Baku Target Each Other’s News Outlets

Azerbaijan has declared the activities of Iran’s Sahar TV and the Mehr News Agency illegal within its territory, describing the move as a reciprocal response after Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence reportedly added Azerbaijan’s state broadcaster AzTV to a list of “hostile media outlets.”

In a statement, Azerbaijan’s Media Development Agency (MEDİA) said Tehran’s decision—which reportedly includes criminal liability for cooperation with media organisations on the list—runs counter to the principles of international journalistic cooperation and restricts freedom of professional activity.

The agency said Azerbaijani law allows for reciprocal measures against foreign media if comparable restrictions are imposed on Azerbaijani journalists abroad.

As a result, Baku declared the operations of Sahar TV, the Mehr News Agency and their representatives in Azerbaijan illegal. The authorities also accused the two Iranian media outlets of publishing content that, they said, undermines Azerbaijan’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, constitutional order and national security.

MEDİA also called on Azerbaijani news organisations and journalists to end all cooperation with Sahar TV and Mehr, arguing that international media cooperation should be based on the principles of reciprocity, mutual respect and editorial independence.

Iranian authorities have not officially confirmed the existence of a “hostile media” list and have not commented on Baku’s decision. Sahar TV and the Mehr News Agency have also not publicly responded to the accusations made by the Azerbaijani authorities.

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