Anar Huseynov
Ambassador of Azerbaijan to Albania
The Government of Azerbaijan has firmly rejected allegations disseminated by Iranian media outlets and amplified by Iran’s ambassador in Yerevan, Armenia claiming Azerbaijani assistance or involvement in the recent escalation between Iran and Israel. These provocative claims are baseless, politically motivated, and aim to tarnish Azerbaijan’s international image amid regional tensions.
The rumors surfaced following the latest military exchange between Iran and Israel earlier this month, in which Tehran faced significant drone and missile attacks. Pro-government media in Iran, alongside senior officials such as the Iranian ambassador to Armenia, made unfounded insinuations that Azerbaijan had provided logistical, namely the incursion of Israeli drones from Azerbaijan, or intelligence support to Israel in the operation.
In response, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan issued a strong statement denying any involvement in the conflict. “These claims undermine the relations between Azerbaijan and Iran that is based on mutual respect for each other’s territorial integrity and sovereignty, and non-interference in the domestic affairs. The Republic of Azerbaijan categorically refutes allegations that its airspace or territory was used by any state to conduct military operations against the neighboring Islamic Republic of Iran or any other country. Such claims are baseless and lack any credible evidence,” said Aykhan Hajizada, MFA Spokesperson, in an official briefing.
Azerbaijan has emphasized that its foreign policy is based on principles of non-interference, regional cooperation, and respect for the sovereignty of all states. Baku reiterated that it has consistently advocated for peaceful resolution of conflicts and has no interest in entangling itself in hostilities that do not serve its national interests or regional stability.
One of the central pillars of Azerbaijan’s foreign policy since regaining independence has been fostering good-neighborly and mutually beneficial relations with all of its neighbors, including the Islamic Republic of Iran. Baku has continuously expressed readiness to engage in open, equal, and constructive dialogue with Tehran on all bilateral and regional issues.
The recent wave of accusations should be seen within the context of Iran’s long-standing bias against Azerbaijan, particularly during periods of national significance and regional sensitivity. For nearly three decades, Iran maintained a conspicuously pro-Armenian stance during the occupation of Azerbaijani territories by Armenia. Despite international recognition of Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity, including UN Security Council resolutions demanding the immediate withdrawal of Armenian forces, Tehran maintained close political, economic, energy, and transportation ties with Yerevan—largely ignoring the rights and plight of nearly one million Azerbaijani IDPs and refugees caused by Armenian occupation.
The 2020 Second Karabakh War further revealed Iran’s contradictory behavior. Instead of supporting the rightful restoration of internationally recognized borders, Tehran again signaled its discomfort with Azerbaijan’s military successes, often voicing concerns more aligned with Armenian interests than with justice or international law. Besides, during the war Iran unlike other regional countries provided transit corridor for military supplies to Armenia from third countries as well as contributing itself through political means and relevant provisions, including fuel deliveries to former separatist regime of Karabakh.
President Ilham Aliyev addressed this unfaithfulness in several speeches. “While Azerbaijan was liberating its own lands from occupation, certain neighbors not only failed to support us but openly supported the aggressor. History records who stood where when justice was being restored.” he said in a post-war address in December 2020.
We see a pattern—each time there is internal unrest or deterioration of relations with third countries, Tehran’s media machine or even officials find convenient narratives abroad, often targeting Azerbaijan without evidence.
As regional and global dynamics evolve, Azerbaijan continues to promote a vision of inclusive regional development, cross-border cooperation, and shared prosperity. In this regard, Baku has repeatedly called upon Iran to avoid fueling regional instability and to refrain from spreading disinformation that could undermine long-term neighborly relations. Azerbaijan’s position remains clear: it did not participate in, support, or facilitate any military action against Iran. The unfounded claims by certain voices of our neighbor, as mentioned above, reflect a broader historical trend of Iran’s bias and double standards in the South Caucasus. So, we do hope that Tehran will adopt a more constructive and fact-based approach to its neighborhood policies, anchored in mutual respect, international law and focus on peace and cooperation.
© 2025 Argumentum
