The report says the visiting minister, Gen. Safar Abiyev, told reporters Azerbaijan will not act against “great Iran” or allow such an attack. This came after he met his Iranian counterpart, Gen. Ahmad Vahidi, yesterday.

Abiyef said Azerbaijan will continue to improve its military ties with Iran.

On Feb. 29, Israel signed a $1.6 billion deal to sell drones, anti-aircraft and missile defense systems to Azerbaijan, bringing Israeli technology to the border of archenemy Iran.

Israel has hinted at an attack on Iran's nuclear facilities, charging Iran is trying to make nuclear weapons. Iran denies that.

Iran has expressed concern over alleged Israeli intelligence activity in the oil-rich Caucasian state.

Meanwhile, a UN human rights expert tasked with investigating the situation in Iran says he has collected “allegations that produce a striking pattern of violations.”

Ahmed Shaheed told the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva that his repeated requests to visit Iran have so far been denied.

Among the violations he cited were the arbitrary arrest of journalists, harsh sentences for human rights lawyers, and cruel forms of punishment.

The 47-nation council appointed Shaheed last year against strong objections from non-member Iran and its allies on the council.

Several European members of the council and the United States welcomed Shaheed's report yesterday. But Cuba and non-member countries such as Sri Lanka, Syria and Belarus criticized the report and called for Shaheed's post to be abolished.