War: Iran must apologise or face retaliation – Azerbaijan President declares

Azerbaijan’s President, Ilham Aliyev, has demanded that Iran apologises for a recent drone incident in the country’s autonomous exclave of Nakhchivan, insisting that those responsible be held accountable.

In a statement on the presidential website, Aliyev said he had convened a meeting to discuss the incident, during which “Nakhchivan International Airport, its terminal building, a school, and other areas were subjected to cowardly fire.”

He said, “The territory of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic was subjected to fire by the Iranian state with unmanned aerial vehicles. The targets of the fire were civilian objects. The Azerbaijani state strongly condemns this ugly terrorist act, and those who committed it must be immediately held accountable.”

Following the incident, Aliyev called a security meeting and addressed the situation, saying: “Any hostile force will feel the full might of our ‘Iron Fist’.”

The Iranian armed forces have denied launching drones into Azerbaijani territory.

Nonetheless, Aliyev said Azerbaijan “strongly condemns this heinous terrorist act” and that his government has summoned Iran’s ambassador to the Foreign Ministry in Baku.

“Those responsible must be brought to justice without delay,” he said.

“The Iranian side must provide an official explanation to Azerbaijan, issue an apology, and ensure that the perpetrators are held criminally accountable.”

Aliyev further stated that Azerbaijan’s armed forces “have been placed at the highest level of combat readiness and are prepared to carry out any required operations.”

He warned: “We will not tolerate this unprovoked act of terror and aggression against Azerbaijan.”

DAILY POST earlier reported that two civilians were injured in the incident which reportedly damaged Nakhchivan International Airport’s terminal building.