Azerbaijan's Media Development Agency (MEDIA) has expressed astonishment after the Ministry of Intelligence of the Islamic Republic of Iran designated several foreign media entities, including Azerbaijani state broadcaster AzTV, as "hostile media outlets" and threatened individuals collaborating with them with criminal prosecution.

Operativ Media reports that the statement was issued by MEDIA in response to Tehran's move.

The agency emphasized that while Azerbaijan remains committed to protecting the professional activities of journalists, it also enforces strict reciprocity:

"According to Article 11.4 of the Law of the Republic of Azerbaijan 'On Media,' if special restrictions are imposed by another state on the professional activities of journalists included in the Media Registry, equivalent restrictions may be applied in the Republic of Azerbaijan to journalists representing that state."

In accordance with the law and the principle of reciprocity, the activities of Iranian outlets Sahar TV and Mehr News Agency, along with their representatives, have been declared illegal within Azerbaijan. The agency noted that these entities act against Azerbaijan's national interests by conducting propaganda against the country's sovereignty, constitutional order, territorial integrity, and national security.

"We call on all media entities and journalists operating in Azerbaijan to refrain from cooperating with the aforementioned media outlets and their affiliated representatives acting against our national interests, and we reiterate that international cooperation in the field of media must be conducted solely on the basis of mutual respect and the professional independence of journalists," the statement concluded.