Azerbaijan Accuses Iran of Shelling Nakhchivan; Tehran Denies Allegations, Pointing to Israel
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev issued a strong statement regarding the shelling of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, accusing Iran of attacking civilian targets with drones. He said the Nakhchivan International Airport, the terminal building, and a school were hit.
Baku strongly condemned the incident, demanding an official explanation, an apology, and accountability from Tehran.
Aliyev also recalled previous incidents, including the attack on the Azerbaijani embassy in Tehran, after which Baku evacuated the diplomatic mission. He emphasized that Azerbaijan strives for peace but is ready to defend its territorial integrity.
The Azerbaijani Ministry of Defense, for its part, maintains that the drones were indeed Iranian. One of the four UAVs was shot down.
The country's Prosecutor General's Office has opened a criminal case under the articles "terrorism" and "actions threatening aviation security." In connection with the incident, the Azerbaijani Armed Forces, the Ministry of Defense, and the State Border Service have been placed on high alert, and a package of retaliatory measures is being prepared.
Meanwhile, the General Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces denied the accusations, stating its respect for the sovereignty of other countries. Iranian media reported a statement attributing the attack on Azerbaijan to Israel, which sought to disrupt relations between Muslim countries.
