Azerbaijan Accuses Iran of Drone Strikes, Tehran Denies Involvement, Blames Israel
BAKU, Azerbaijan – Azerbaijan accused Iran of carrying out drone strikes on Thursday that wounded two people, prompting President Ilham Aliyev to order his military to prepare for retaliatory measures. The attacks struck an airport and an area near a school, according to the Azerbaijani foreign ministry.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, in a phone call with his Azerbaijani counterpart Jeyhun Bayramov, expressed regret for the injuries but denied that the drones originated from Iran. He instead attributed the attacks to Israel, alleging a deliberate attempt to damage relations between Tehran and Baku.
“He particularly pointed to the role of the Israeli regime in such attacks to mislead public opinion and undermine Iran’s good relations with its neighbors,” a statement from the Iranian foreign ministry read. Araghchi reiterated Iran’s stance that it only targets U.S. and Israeli interests in the Middle East.
Aliyev condemned the strikes as “a groundless act of terror and aggression.” He has directed the Azerbaijani military to prepare to take retaliatory measures, though specifics have not been disclosed.
The escalating tensions come amidst a week of heightened regional anxieties, as Iran has launched a series of missile and drone attacks that have strained relationships with neighboring countries, including Gulf states. While Iran maintains these attacks are focused on U.S. and Israeli targets, the perceived indiscriminate nature of the barrage has raised concerns.
In response to the strikes, Azerbaijan closed a portion of its airspace along its border with Iran for at least 12 hours.
Araghchi, during his conversation with Bayramov, also expressed Iran’s desire to strengthen relations with Azerbaijan “in all fields.” However, the accusations and counter-accusations signal a significant deterioration in ties between the two countries.
This incident adds to a complex geopolitical landscape in the region, with potential implications for regional stability and international security.
