Baku, March 5, AZERTAC

On March 5, a meeting of the Security Council was held under the chairmanship of President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev.

The head of state delivered a speech at the event.

Speech by President Ilham Aliyev

- Today, a terrorist act was committed by Iran against the territory of Azerbaijan and the state of Azerbaijan. The territory of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic came under fire from unmanned aerial vehicles launched by the Iranian state. The targets of the attack were civilian facilities, including the Nakhchivan International Airport and its terminal building, a school, and other civilian sites, all treacherously struck by Iran.

The State of Azerbaijan strongly condemns this heinous terrorist act. Those responsible must be brought to justice without delay. The Iranian side must provide an official explanation to Azerbaijan, issue an apology, and ensure that the perpetrators are held criminally accountable.

This is not the first time that the Iranian state has carried out acts of terror against Azerbaijan and Azerbaijanis. We all clearly remember that some time ago, the Embassy of Azerbaijan in Tehran was subjected to a terrorist attack. The assailant, acting under the instructions of Iranian special services, carried out a violent attack against Azerbaijani citizens, resulting in one death and one serious injury. I should also note that an unarmed representative of Azerbaijan’s special services neutralized the terrorist, who was armed with a Kalashnikov assault rifle, Molotov cocktails, and an axe.

At that time, we had no doubt that the Iranian state was behind the attack. The act of terror lasted approximately 40 minutes, both inside and around the embassy building. During that time, not a single security or police officer approached the embassy. It was clear that the attack had been ordered at the highest levels of Iran’s state institutions to intimidate Azerbaijan and pursue malicious intentions against our country.

As you know, Azerbaijan responded in the strongest possible terms. Our embassy was evacuated from Iran, and all diplomatic relations were suspended. The Iranian side was compelled to apologize and acknowledge its guilt. At our insistence, the perpetrator received the harshest possible sentence. Although the Iranian state initially showed little interest in enforcing the sentence and even sought to shield the criminal, it was ultimately forced to execute the terrorist in the presence of Azerbaijani representatives.

This time, our response will be the same. We will not tolerate this unprovoked act of terror and aggression against Azerbaijan. Our Armed Forces have been instructed to prepare and implement appropriate retaliatory measures.

On numerous occasions, particularly following last year’s clashes, we informed the Iranian side that Azerbaijan’s territory would not be used against any neighboring state. We will not allow this, and we have never allowed it. Whereas during the summer of last year and thereafter, baseless accusations were directed at us from Iran. Media outlets controlled by Iranian state institutions conducted a dirty, defamatory campaign against Azerbaijan in an attempt to discredit our country and influence the opinions of our fellow Azerbaijanis in Iran. They know that the independent Azerbaijani state today is a source of hope for many Azerbaijanis in Iran. In other words, their objective was to defame us, slander us, and discredit us in the eyes of the Iranian public, but there was no basis for such accusations.

Azerbaijan neither participated nor will participate in any operations against Iran this time around. This is our principled position. We have no interest and no policy to conduct operations against neighboring countries. We protect - and have always protected - our territorial integrity. Just as we ended the Armenian occupation, we are ready to demonstrate our strength against any hostile force - and they should not forget this in Iran.

This terrorist act they committed, in addition to all its other vile aspects, is a grave example of ingratitude. As soon as recent incidents occurred, we conveyed our condolences. Upon my instruction, the Minister of Foreign Affairs spoke with his Iranian counterpart. I demonstrated my position by personally visiting their embassy to offer condolences—no other head of state has visited an Iranian embassy elsewhere for this purpose. To disregard such a gesture, to belittle it, and to conduct themselves in a base and ungrateful manner brings honor to no one. Those dishonorable perpetrators who committed this terrorist act against us will regret it. They should not test our strength. Those who did so in the past had their sculls crushed with “Iron Fist,” and today’s events will lead to the same outcome.

Accordingly, a comprehensive action plan must be prepared. All necessary instructions have been issued. The Ambassador of Iran to Azerbaijan has been summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; a note of protest will be delivered, and additional diplomatic measures will follow. Relevant instructions concerning border security have also been issued.

I must also inform you that this morning, the Deputy Foreign Minister of Iran called Baku, requesting Azerbaijan’s assistance in evacuating Iranian embassy personnel remaining in Lebanon due to a lack of resources. I was briefed and immediately instructed that assistance be provided, with an aircraft dispatched. They even offered to cover the costs, which I declined - if we do not help in times of difficulty, when should we help? Yet they responded by striking Nakhchivan in such a vile and dishonorable manner. This stain will never be erased from their disgraceful and unsightly record.

All necessary measures will be taken through diplomatic channels. Our Armed Forces - the Ministry of Defense, the State Border Service, and all Special Forces units - have been placed at the highest level of combat readiness and are prepared to carry out any required operations.

That is all for now. We will keep the people of Azerbaijan informed about further developments. The Ministry of Defense’s statement has already been released to the media. The Azerbaijani people can be assured that any hostile force will feel the full might of our “Iron Fist.”