Iran blames Israel for Azerbaijan's travel warning

Iran's Foreign Ministry Spokesman Nasser Kanani has criticised Azerbaijan's advice to its nationals not to travel to Iran unless necessary, and accused Israel of being behind the decision.

Kanani wrote on Twitter on June 5 that this was the "same policy" that Israeli President Isaac Herzog pursued during his recent visit to Azerbaijan.

He said it was the "fake, child-killing and occupying Zionist regime" that the "people of Azerbaijan should be scared of, not civilised and Islamic Iran".

The spokesman said in another tweet that Iran continued its visa-free regime and "open embrace for Azerbaijani brothers and sisters", saying that the "neighbourhood policy" was a priority but one based on "reciprocal respect and neighbourly courtesy".

On 3 June, Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry called on citizens to refrain from unnecessary travel to Iran and to be extremely careful when visiting the country.

The statement was made taking into account the terrorist act committed in January this year against the Embassy of Azerbaijan in Iran, which resulted in restrictions on the work of the Azerbaijani diplomatic mission.

The warning came after reports that an Azerbaijani student, who went missing during a private visit to Iran in February, had been charged with espionage there.

Iranian-Azerbaijani relations have been strained in recent years for multiple reasons, including Tehran being wary of Baku's cooperation with Israel.