Eli Cohen, the Israeli foreign minister, will go to Turkmenistan on Wednesday night to open an embassy there that will be located not far from the country’s border with Iran, the region’s archrival.
Israel’s nearest consular representation in Iran will be at Ashgabat, which is around 15 miles (25 km) from the Iranian border.
The 1,148 kilometre boundary between Iran and Turkmenistan.
Since 1991, there has been diplomatic ties between Israel and Turkmenistan, and for the past ten years, an Israeli ambassador has been based in a temporary post there.
Israel Hayom stated that “Cohen’s trip to Turkmenistan and the opening of the embassy are meant to convey a message to Iran that Israel is a present and expanding presence in the area.
On Thursday, Cohen will meet with the Jewish community, other authorities, and the president of Turkmenistan, Serdar Berdimuhamedov, according to the Times of Israel. He will also meet with his counterpart Rashid Meredov.
The Israeli envoy is presently in Iran’s neighbourhood of Azerbaijan, where ties with Israel have been contentious.
As tensions between Tehran and Baku grew earlier this month, the foreign ministry of Azerbaijan announced the expulsion of four Iranian embassy staff members. Additionally, six persons who Azerbaijan said were involved with the Iranian secret services and were planning a coup were detained.
Iran has long been concerned that Israel may use its much smaller neighbours as a base for an eventual attack on it.
Iran has charged Israel with conducting assassinations and attacks on Iranian land, although Israel has never admitted guilt.
