Foreign Ministry: Azerbaijan responds daily to nationals' evacuation calls from Israel, Iran

Spokesman for the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry Aykhan Hajizada has said that hotline calls received at Azerbaijani embassies in Israel and Iran, as well as at the Consulate General in Tabriz, are being reviewed every day to assist nationals seeking safe passage out of the conflict zones.

He noted that efforts remain underway to obtain the necessary permits for Azerbaijani citizens and individuals from other countries who wish to cross Iran’s land borders for evacuation, Caliber.Az reports via local media.

Hajizada added that Azerbaijani citizens currently in Israel are being guided toward neighbouring Egypt and Jordan as part of the evacuation process.

“To date, our Embassy and Consulate General in Iran have received approximately 500 requests from Azerbaijani nationals, with over 60 successfully crossing the border. Moreover, more than 1,200 requests from 51 countries are being processed, with appropriate border crossing permits being arranged. We have also taken measures to facilitate the transfer of 34 Azerbaijani citizens from Israel to Jordan,” the spokesman said.

Israel launched a surprise strike on Iran on June 13, sparking the most intense confrontation between the two nations to date and raising fears of a broader Middle Eastern conflict. Iran retaliated with missile and drone attacks targeting Israeli cities including Tel Aviv and Haifa. Israel asserts its strikes targeted military and nuclear sites, eliminating several senior commanders and scientists. 

Pezeshkian responded, “Does the scientist of this country have a gun in his hand and a bomb? If we did not have these missiles now, Israel would easily hit wherever it wanted every day.” According to a senior US official, President Donald Trump urged Israel to halt plans to assassinate Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has hinted that regime change in Iran could be a potential outcome of their military actions.  Calling for national unity, Pezeshkian urged Iranians to put aside their differences amid the crisis: “Every difference, issue, and problem that has existed must be put aside today and we must stand strong against this genocidal criminal aggression with unity and coherence.”

Iranian officials have emphasized diplomatic efforts despite Israel’s preference for military measures and US threats of consequences if nuclear talks fail. They also stressed that any Israeli attack would not occur without US knowledge and support.

By Naila Huseynova