A drone attack launched from Iran toward Azerbaijan’s Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic has further escalated tensions in the region. Reports indicate that four drones were sent from Iranian territory toward Nakhchivan. One of them was neutralized by the Azerbaijani Armed Forces, while the others fell near civilian infrastructure. The incident reportedly caused damage to Nakhchivan International Airport and left several people injured, bringing regional security concerns back to the forefront.
Speaking to Baku TV, political analyst Ahmad Shahidov stated that Iran’s policy toward Azerbaijan has consistently demonstrated a hostile character over the past decades. According to him, the drone attack targeting Nakhchivan is a continuation of this approach. Previously, Azerbaijan’s embassy in Tehran was attacked by an armed assailant, and Iran has repeatedly conducted large-scale military exercises near Azerbaijan’s borders. In addition, Iran’s various forms of support to Armenia during the Second Karabakh War are also cited as examples of Tehran’s unfriendly stance toward Baku.
Ahmad Shahidov also emphasized that such actions reflect internal political divisions within Iran. He noted that there is a serious gap between the presidential institution and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC/SEPAH), which often leads to contradictory decisions in Iran’s foreign policy. Tehran’s confrontational foreign policy in recent years has strained its relations with many countries, gradually isolating Iran on the international stage. In this context, Azerbaijan and Turkey are considered Iran’s most natural regional partners, yet Tehran’s aggressive actions toward these two countries have drawn significant criticism and may deepen Iran’s diplomatic isolation.
