On March 5, unmanned aerial vehicles, reported to have flown from Iranian territory, targeted civilian infrastructure in the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic. One of the drones damaged the building of Nakhchivan International Airport, while another fell near the full secondary school of Shakarabad village in Babek district, exploding and consequently injuring 4 civilians.
Following the incident, a number of countries and international actors also condemned the attack and expressed their support for Azerbaijan's territorial integrity and security.
Modern.az sought to ascertain the position of the Academician Ziya Bunyadov Institute of Oriental Studies of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences (ANAS) regarding the Iranian side's targeting of civilian infrastructure.
Elnur Mustafayev, Head of the Department of Religion and Public Thought at the Academician Ziya Bunyadov Institute of Oriental Studies of ANAS, stated that the Institute strongly condemns the incident, evaluating it as an act contrary to international law:
“This is an act contrary to all norms of international law. Especially considering that Azerbaijan and the Islamic Republic of Iran are neighboring states with historical ties. Nevertheless, this attack directed against Azerbaijan, without observing any norms, is absolutely unacceptable and inconceivable.
The Iranian side must unequivocally apologize to the Azerbaijani state and people for this action. A detailed position on this issue was also expressed at the Security Council meeting held yesterday by President Ilham Aliyev. We hope that the Iranian side will approach the matter carefully and that all provocations and threats directed against Azerbaijan will cease.”
E. Mustafayev also noted that, otherwise, the consequences of such actions do not bode well for the Iranian state either:
"The attack on Nakhchivan International Airport, as well as on Shakarabad village of Babek district, is not only absolutely unacceptable but also a major crime and an act of terror. It is an action directed against the Azerbaijani state and people.
As the Institute of Oriental Studies, we strongly condemn this incident and hope that those involved in this crime will be identified and punished soon. Such incidents harm Azerbaijan-Iran relations and can lead to their deterioration. We believe that those behind this provocation must be identified and receive their deserved response. Such provocations must be stopped.
Otherwise, these actions, which damage relations with neighboring states – be it Azerbaijan, Turkey, or other countries – will not be good for the Iranian state and people.”
It should be recalled that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan issued a statement in this regard, demanding that the Islamic Republic of Iran clarify the matter, provide an explanation, and take necessary measures to prevent such incidents from recurring in the future.
The Ministry of Defense of Azerbaijan, for its part, stated that it strongly condemns the attacks carried out by Iranian armed forces against civilian infrastructure in our country's territory without military necessity. The Ministry's statement noted that responsibility for the incident lies with the Iranian side, and such attacks will not go unanswered.
