WANA (Apr 6) – The media of the Republic of Azerbaijan, quoting the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the country, claimed that the Republic of Azerbaijan, by summoning the Iranian ambassador, introduced four diplomats of the Iranian embassy as undesirable diplomate (Persona non grata) and demanded that they leave the territory of Azerbaijan within 48 hours.

 

During the past few days, Baku had arrested several citizens of Azerbaijan on charges of cooperation and connection with Iran.

Iran’s Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and ambassador of Azerbaijan to Iran Ali Alizada attend a joint news conference in Tajrish hospital in Tehran, Iran, January 27, 2023. WANA (West Asia News Agency)

IRAN &  AZERBAIJAN TENSIONS 

  • The authorities of the Republic of Azerbaijan are angry because of the failure to achieve some of their regional goals. Baku thinks that the main obstacle to not achieving its goals is Iran, which is a wrong analysis. Azerbaijan’s goal after entering the 44-day war was to liberate Karabakh.

 

  • Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen made anti-Iranian statements in a joint press conference with Azerbaijan’s Foreign Minister and claimed that there is a common understanding between Baku and Tel Aviv regarding the “threat of Iran”. Cohen also added: “In addition to threatening our regions, the Islamic Republic also destabilizes the entire Middle East.”. Iran believes that the proximity of Azerbaijan to Israel is not in the interest of the security of Azerbaijan and Iran.

 

  • The incident of the attack on the Azerbaijani embassy in Tehran / an incident in which one person was killed and the Iranian officials expressed their regret and sympathy in this case at very high levels. The Republic of Azerbaijan acted hastily in this case and suspended the activity of its embassy in Tehran. Closing the embassy means closing diplomatic channels.
Azerbaijan embassy

A general view of the Embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan after an attack on it in Tehran, Iran, January 27, 2023. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency)