President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev convened a meeting of the Security Council and stated that the Iranian side must provide explanations to Baku and issue an apology for the incident. According to him, Azerbaijan will not reconcile itself with this unjustified terrorist act committed against the country.
The head of state emphasized that this is not the first time the Iranian state has carried out terrorist actions against Azerbaijan and Azerbaijanis. At the same time, he stressed that Azerbaijan is not participating and will not participate in any operations against Iran.
Aliyev stated that the people of Azerbaijan will be regularly informed about the course of the ongoing developments. He emphasized that any hostile force acting against the country will face the “Iron Fist,” reminding that those who previously tried to test Azerbaijan’s strength have already received a crushing response.
The president also announced that Azerbaijan’s armed forces have been placed on combat readiness level No.1. According to him, the Ministry of Defense, the State Border Service, and other special units must be ready to carry out any necessary operation.
Aliyev separately noted that Azerbaijan had previously assisted Iran during a difficult moment. According to him, Iran’s deputy foreign minister contacted Baku requesting help to evacuate employees of the Iranian embassy from Lebanon. Azerbaijan sent an aircraft and provided assistance, even refusing the payment that had been offered.
The president stressed that despite this, Nakhchivan was later subjected to what he described as a treacherous and cowardly strike. He called the incident an example of extreme ingratitude, recalling that Azerbaijan had also expressed condolences to Iran after recent events and that the head of state personally visited the Iranian embassy in Baku.
According to Aliyev, those responsible for the terrorist act against Azerbaijan will regret their actions and should not test the country’s strength. He stated that a plan of action has already been ordered: Iran’s ambassador has been summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, a note of protest will be delivered, other diplomatic steps will be taken, and appropriate instructions have been issued regarding the situation along the border.
The president also noted that after last year’s clashes, unfounded accusations were made against Azerbaijan in Iran, while state-controlled media conducted a smear campaign aimed at discrediting the country and influencing the views of Azerbaijanis living in Iran.
According to Aliyev, the authorities in Tehran understand well that today the independent Azerbaijani state represents a source of hope for many Azerbaijanis living in Iran.
