TEHRAN, Iran: Iran on Thursday denied responsibility for a drone attack that struck Azerbaijan’s Nakhchivan exclave near the Iranian border, triggering diplomatic tensions between the two neighbours.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran had no role in the attack and instead accused Israel of carrying out the strike to damage Iran’s relations with neighbouring countries.
In a telephone call with Azerbaijan’s Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov, Araghchi “denied that Iran fired any projectiles” at Azerbaijan, according to a statement issued by Iran’s foreign ministry.
He condemned what he described as “the role of the Israeli regime in such attacks in order to divert public opinion and destroy Iran’s good relations with its neighbours”.
The drone strike took place around midday on Thursday in the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, an Azerbaijani exclave bordering Iran and Turkiye.
Azerbaijan demands explanation
Azerbaijan strongly condemned the attack and demanded an explanation from Tehran.
President Ilham Aliyev said those responsible must be held accountable after the territory was “subjected to cowardly fire”.
“The Azerbaijani state strongly condemns this ugly terrorist act, and those who committed it must be immediately held accountable,” Aliyev said in a statement posted on the presidential website.
Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the attack occurred at about noon (08:00 GMT).
“One drone struck the terminal building of the airport in the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, while another drone fell near a school building in the village of Shakarabad,” the ministry said.
The ministry said the strike injured two people and caused damage to airport infrastructure.
“We strongly condemn these drone attacks launched from the territory of the Islamic Republic of Iran,” the statement said.
Baku summoned Iran’s ambassador, Mojtaba Demirchilou, and demanded “a clear explanation” over the incident, warning that Azerbaijan “reserves the right to take appropriate response measures”.
Earlier reports said four people were wounded in the attack.
Iran rejects accusations
Iranian officials rejected the accusations and insisted Tehran does not target neighbouring countries.
Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said Iran had not carried out the strike.
“The Islamic Republic of Iran has not targeted the Republic of Azerbaijan,” Gharibabadi said in remarks carried by Iran’s Tasnim news agency.
“We do not target our neighbouring countries,” he added.
He said Iran’s military operations were directed only at “the military bases of its enemies” operating in the region to launch attacks on Iran.
Turkiye, a close ally of Azerbaijan, also condemned the attack and warned against widening the regional conflict.
In a statement, Ankara said it “strongly” condemned the strike and emphasised the need to prevent the conflict from spreading to other countries.
“Turkiye will continue to stand by Azerbaijan in the future, as it has always done,” the statement said.
“We emphasise once again the need to stop attacks targeting third countries in the region and carrying the risk of spreading the war.”
Pakistan reaffirms solidarity with Azerbaijan
Meanwhile, Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar underscored the urgent need for de-escalation and stressed the importance of dialogue and diplomacy for regional peace and stability.
He was talking to the Azeri Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov in a telephonic call today.
The Deputy Prime Minister reaffirmed Pakistan’s solidarity with Azerbaijan and its people.
During the conversation, they expressed serious concern over the escalating regional situation and the drone attacks targeting Azerbaijan today.
Both sides expressed commitment to remain in close contact on evolving developments.
