Azerbaijan's Foreign Ministry Responds to Iran

Baku has labeled the statements made by Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Nasser Kanani regarding the expulsion of several employees from Iran's embassy in Azerbaijan as 'biased' and 'emotional.'

Previously, Azerbaijan's Foreign Ministry declared four employees of Iran's diplomatic mission in Baku as 'persona non grata' for engaging in activities that were 'inconsistent with their diplomatic status and contrary to the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.'

Azerbaijan's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Aykhan Hajizadeh noted that the Iranian Foreign Ministry's claims that Azerbaijan's decision regarding its embassy staff contradicts the principles of friendship are 'groundless.'

Hajizadeh emphasized that 'illegal actions' within Azerbaijani territory are incompatible with friendly relations. 'Islamic solidarity does not imply the use of religion for political purposes, interference in neighboring states' internal affairs, or support for the occupation of territories of another Muslim country.' Azerbaijan builds its relationships with its neighbors based on 'mutual principles.' Baku has never been interested in severing ties with any country; thus, Azerbaijan's undertaken 'adequate measures' have always been a response to provocative and inflammatory actions,' he stated.