The Embassy of Azerbaijan in Tehran, the capital of Iran, has reopened after more than a year of closure.
The embassy resumed its regular operations on July 15, 2024; however, an official at the embassy said that the move awaits an announcement from the Iranian government, VisaGuide.World reports.
For many years, tensions between Iran and Azerbaijan have been high due to the latter’s strong ties to Israel and continued conflict with neighbouring Armenia.
An Incident at Azerbaijan’s Embassy in Tehran in 2023 Led Baku to Close Embassy & Evacuate Its Staff
Azerbaijan decided to close its embassy in Iran following an armed attack on the diplomatic mission on January 2023, which killed a staff member and injured two others. Baku called it a terrorist attack and announced plans to evacuate its diplomats and personnel from the embassy.
On the other hand, Iran said the attack was the result of a personal dispute and that the gunman opened fire in response to his wife allegedly disappearing at the embassy months prior.
Commenting on the embassy’s reopening, Iranian government spokesperson Ali describes it as “the fruit of the result-oriented diplomacy” of the late Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and the efforts of the Iranian Foreign Ministry.
As the host country, Iran has taken measures to ensure the security of the new embassy building in line with its obligations under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.
According to the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry, steps are being taken to organize consular services at the new embassy location. It further noted that updates on restoring these services will also be provided soon.
The same also said that the resumption of the embassy’s operations will contribute to further developing Azerbaijan-Iran relations based on mutual respect and good neighbourliness. It will also aid in implementing agreements reached between the two countries.
Last Year, Azerbaijan & Iran Decided to Expell Their Diplomats Working at Each Other’s Embassy
In April 2023, Azerbaijan expelled four Iranian diplomats from Baku. A month later, Iran expelled four Azeri diplomats who had been working in Azerbaijan’s Embassy in Tehran and its consulate in the northwestern city of Tabriz.
Relations between these two countries also remain tense when, in March of last year, Azerbaijan opened an embassy in Israel. Still, Azerbaijan maintains close ties to Israel, which Tehran views as its top regional enemy. Iran has repeatedly opposed improving relations between Azerbaijan and Israel.
Moreover, Azerbaijan borders Iran’s northwest and belonged to the Persian Empire until the early 19th century. There are over 12 million Ethnic Azeris in Iran who represent the Islamic Republic’s largest minority group.