Azerbaijan Withdraws Diplomats From Iran Due to Security Concerns
Azerbaijan has pulled its diplomats from Iran following a drone incident near Nakhchivan that resulted in injuries to four individuals, heightening concerns over security.
Azerbaijan’s Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov announced on Friday that the government had ordered the evacuation of personnel from the country’s embassy in Tehran and its consulate general in Tabriz.
President Ilham Aliyev’s directives led to the decision, according to Bayramov during a news conference in Baku.
Azerbaijan has announced the evacuation of its diplomats from Iran for their safety, following heightened tensions after a reported drone incursion near its Nakhchivan exclave.
The action came after a drone incident close to the Nakhchivan exclave that resulted in injuries to four individuals.
“Following the directives of President Ilham Aliyev, measures have been initiated to evacuate our embassy in Tehran and the consulate general in Tabriz from Iran, and these measures are currently in progress. “We cannot jeopardize the safety of our people,” he stated.
The decision follows Azerbaijan’s announcement that four Iranian drones entered its territory in the Nakhchivan exclave, resulting in injuries to four individuals. Baku issued a strong condemnation of the incident, whereas Iran refuted the claims of launching the drones.
President Aliyev has issued a warning that Azerbaijan may take retaliatory action in response to what it has characterized as a breach of its territory.
The relationship between the two neighboring countries has been tense for an extended period, partly because of Azerbaijan’s strong connections with Israel, which have faced backlash from Tehran.
Despite both nations having a predominantly Shi’ite Muslim population, Azerbaijan upholds a secular government and has frequently encountered tensions with Iran regarding regional influence and security issues.
