AZE.US
Iran’s ambassador to Azerbaijan says Tehran does not recognize responsibility for the drone strikes on Nakhchivan, describing the incident as involving “suspicious circumstances” that require further investigation between the two countries.
Iran’s ambassador to Azerbaijan Mojtaba Damirchilou said Tehran does not acknowledge responsibility for the drone strikes that recently hit the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, calling the incident unclear and stressing the need for a joint investigation.
Speaking in an interview with Azerbaijani BAKU TV, the diplomat said Iranian authorities had been informed about the incident through diplomatic channels and immediately contacted Tehran to clarify the situation.
According to the ambassador, Iran has not officially confirmed that the drones were launched by its military, and several aspects of the incident remain unclear.
“There are suspicious circumstances in this case. We have contacted Tehran and agreed with the Azerbaijani side that all details must be carefully examined,” the ambassador said.
Dispute over the drones
Azerbaijani officials earlier said the strike was carried out using Arash-2 drones, a type of loitering munition known to be used by Iran’s armed forces.
Journalists pointed out that the drones were reportedly launched from relatively short distances and that individuals wearing Iranian military uniforms were allegedly seen near the launch equipment.
The ambassador responded that he was not in a position to evaluate the technical details.
“I am a diplomat, not a military specialist. My mission is to help resolve any difficulties between our countries as quickly as possible,” he said.
Tehran says it does not hide its operations
The diplomat also noted that Iran typically openly acknowledges its military actions when they occur.
He recalled that after attacks on Iran on Feb. 28, Tehran launched strikes against what it described as U.S. and Israeli military facilities and publicly announced those operations.
“If Iran carries out an operation, it usually declares it officially. That is why we believe this incident needs to be carefully investigated,” he said.
Concern in Azerbaijan
The drone incident caused significant concern in Azerbaijan. One drone reportedly struck the terminal building of Nakhchivan International Airport, while another exploded near a school in the Babek district.
Two civilians were injured, according to Azerbaijani officials.
Baku has described the incident as serious and says it expects a full clarification of the circumstances.
The Iranian ambassador emphasized that Tehran values its relationship with Azerbaijan and hopes the investigation will prevent the situation from escalating.
“Our peoples share deep historical and cultural ties. Any problems between our countries should be resolved through dialogue,” he said.