Azerbaijan declared that four employees of the Iranian embassy in its country would be expelled amid growing tension between the two neighbors. Relations between Azerbaijan and Iran are complicated, and Azerbaijan accuses Iran of instigating a coup attempt against it. At a meeting convened by the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry, the Iranian ambassador in Baku was informed of the move and given 48 hours to recall the employees. During the meeting, Baku expressed its strong dissatisfaction with Iran’s recent provocations against Azerbaijan. The expulsions came hours after the announcement of the arrest of six Azerbaijani citizens accused of being recruited by Iranian secret services to destabilize the country.
Tensions between Azerbaijan and Iran have long been of concern due to territorial disputes and the issue of the Azerbaijani minority in Iran. In addition, Azerbaijan is an important trade and energy partner of Israel, which has led to Iran’s distrust. The expulsion of the Iranian embassy employees could further aggravate relations between the two countries and increase the possibility of conflict.
In addition, the arrest of Azerbaijani nationals accused of working for the Iranian secret services suggests that tension between the two countries is reaching a critical point and that urgent measures are needed to resolve the disputes. If not properly addressed, this situation could further destabilize the region and affect the interests of neighboring countries.