Azerbaijan holds Iran responsible for Tehran embassy terror attack

• An armed terrorist attack was carried out on the Azerbaijani embassy.
• Deputy Foreign Minister blamed Iran for the terrorist assault and its serious repercussions.
• Azerbaijan has for the first time accepted a martyr.

On January 29, a jet transporting the diplomats and their families, as well as the body of the murdered embassy security chief, Orxan Asgarov, landed at Baku’s Heydar Aliyev Airport.

Meanwhile, Deputy Foreign Minister Xalaf Xalafov blamed Iran for the terrorist assault and its serious repercussions when addressing to media at the Baku airport.

“On January 27, at about 0830 hours, an armed terrorist attack was carried out on the Azerbaijani embassy in Iran,” Deputy Foreign Minister Xalaf Xalafov said, adding that the incident was unexpected.

“Because such incidents are unlikely, generally unacceptable. According to the relevant articles of the Vienna Convention, the country that hosts the embassy is responsible for its security. Iran, as a state, is responsible for the terrorist act and its grave consequences,” the deputy minister said.

He added that the Iranian envoy in Baku had been informed of Azerbaijan’s demands.

“After this incident, we invited the ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the ministry. Based on the preliminary information we have, we brought Azerbaijan’s demands to the attention of the Iranian ambassador,” Xalafov added.

“Our main requirement is that Iran, as a responsible state, within the framework of its international obligations, must conduct a thorough, detailed, and transparent investigation into the terrorist act,” Xalaf Xalafov said.

The deputy foreign minister made comments about the consulate general of Azerbaijan in Tabriz, saying that it is operating and that Iran is in charge of protecting it and assuring the safety of its staff.

“Protecting our consulate general in Tabriz and ensuring the safety of people working there is entirely the responsibility of the Iranian government. We hope that the Iranian state, having drawn the appropriate conclusions from the terrorist attack, will not allow such situations to occur in the future,” Deputy Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan Xalaf Xalafov said.

“Each state that hosts embassy staff must remain loyal to its obligations,” Xalaf Xalafov added.

The deputy foreign minister also stated that although no appropriate action was taken, Azerbaijan constantly brought up the matter of embassy security with relevant Iranian agencies.

“Why are we saying this? Because we have repeatedly brought to the attention of the Iranian side that there are threats against the diplomatic missions of the Republic of Azerbaijan in the territory of Iran,” Xalafov said.

The honor of receiving a martyr from a neighboring country was lamented by the deputy foreign minister.

“Unfortunately, we have accepted a martyr from a neighboring state. The Azerbaijani embassy for the first time accepted a martyr. Both Orxan Asgarov and the wounded were able to prevent the more serious consequences of the terrorist act at the cost of their blood,” Xalaf Xalafov added.

“They showed heroism. They did it in the name of the sovereignty and independence of the Republic of Azerbaijan,” Xalaf Xalafov added.

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