By Euronews
Published on
Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev decided to bring the country’s army to “full combat readiness” on Thursday, with the country’s armed forces “instructed to prepare and implement response measures” after Tehran’s drones targeted the passenger terminal of Azerbaijan’s Nakhchivan International Airport and a rural school, injuring four civilians.
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Chairing the Security Council of Azerbaijan on Thursday, Aliyev demanded that Iran must apologise and explain the incident, calling for “those who committed this terrorist act be held criminally liable” and offering new details by which this would not be an isolated attack by Tehran.
Aliyev’s firm position and direct statements are reminiscent of his handling of the Azerbaijan Airlines Flight 8243 plane crash disaster in December 2024, in which he directly accused Russia of shooting down the aircraft.
He also added that “all necessary instructions” were given for a plan of action. A few hours after the Security Council meeting, Azerbaijan halted the cross-border traffic with Iran.
Aliyev went further in his statement, recalling a number of past incidents that he claimed were orchestrated by Iran against Azerbaijani citizens.
According to Aliyev, Tehran knows that Azerbaijan “is a source of hope for many Azerbaijanis living in Iran”, underlining the recent growing tension between the two countries over the Azerbaijani minority in Iran as well as Azerbaijan’s strong relations with Israel.
Azerbaijan’s president made it clear that despite these incidents and tension, “Azerbaijan did not participate and will not participate in any operations against Iran.”
In one of the most striking remarks, Aliyev revealed how Thursday morning “the deputy foreign minister of Iran called Baku and asked Azerbaijan to assist in evacuating Iranian embassy staff remaining in Lebanon because they lacked the means to do so.”
“I immediately instructed that assistance be provided and that an aircraft be sent. They even said they were ready to pay for it.”
“I said it was not necessary — if we do not help in difficult times, when should we help? And in return for all this, to strike Nakhchivan in such a treacherous and dishonorable manner? This stain will never be erased from their disgraceful image,” Aliyev said.
Iran’s attack on Azerbaijan, which Tehran denies, immediately drew condemnation from Turkey, Baku’s closest ally in the region.
“We strongly condemn the drone attacks carried out today on Azerbaijan,” a ministry statement said, adding that Ankara “will continue to stand by Azerbaijan, as it always has.”
