The Milli Majlis of the Republic of Azerbaijan condemns the terrorist attack committed upon the Embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan in the Islamic Republic of Iran on 27 January 2023.

The responsibility for this insidious attack falls squarely on the Iranian side: a host country is obliged to ensure the security of diplomatic missions and the safety of their staff in its territory pursuant to the Vienna Convention of 1961.

It should be noted with regret that a campaign of slander and intimidation against our country has recently been waged in the Islamic Republic of Iran. Preventive measures against possible assaults on the Azerbaijani diplomatic missions should have been the focus of attention of the Iranian law enforcement agencies therefore. Given the current conditions, serious questions arise as to the possibility of unimpeded entry of an armed person onto the premises of the embassy where a special security regime is in place.

We find that the explanatory statements made by Iran regarding causes of this ruthless assault are unsatisfactory. We demand a thorough and in-depth investigation into this terrorist act, as much as we do a proper identification and the harshest possible punishment for all those responsible and those who stand behind the bloody criminal act, as well as the clarification of the circumstances that had led to the egregious terror attack upon the diplomatic mission.

It is known full well that Azerbaijan has for long years been subjected to acts of terrorism. However, however grave the consequences of those bloody atrocities, they have not been and will not be able to force the Azerbaijani State off its independent internal and foreign political course. Neither should those who ordered, instigated and carried the terrorist attack against the Embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan in the Islamic Republic of Iran entertain whatever doubts as to their being doomed to fail to achieve their nefarious ends.

Whilst ensuring the protection of the Embassy and the embassial staff, we pray that the Almighty would rest in peace the soul of our fallen martyr; we also express our deepest condolences to his family and friends and to those wounded we send our wishes of a soon recovery.

The Milli Majlis of the Republic of Azerbaijan

27 January 2023