Azerbaijan rejects CNN report alleging use of territory for operations against Iran

Baku has strongly rejected allegations published on CNN’s website claiming that Azerbaijani territory was used for military or intelligence operations against Iran, as well as assertions regarding the alleged deployment of Israeli forces in the country.

Commenting on the report dated June 5, spokesperson of the Azerbaijani Ministry of Foreign Affairs Aykhan Hajizada said the claims were “entirely baseless” and categorically denied, adding that they had been repeatedly refuted by Baku.

He further stated that Azerbaijan had conveyed its official position to CNN prior to publication. Hajizada stressed that “the publication of allegations based on anonymous sources, without presenting any credible evidence while disregarding Azerbaijan’s official position, runs contrary to the principles of objectivity, impartiality, and professional ethics in journalism.”

The statement criticised the reliance on unnamed sources and the absence of verifiable evidence, arguing that the report ignored Azerbaijan’s official clarification.

The spokesperson reiterated that Azerbaijan has never permitted, and will not permit, its territory to be used by any third country for military operations, intelligence activities, or hostile actions against other states.

"Azerbaijan remains committed to promoting peace, stability, and good-neighbourly relations in the region. Such groundless allegations, unsupported by any evidence, constitute yet another attempt at disinformation. We expect CNN to refute this article containing unfounded allegations," the commentary says.

By Aghakazim Guliyev