Iran nears appointment of new ambassador to Azerbaijan amid warming ties

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei has stated that the process of appointing the Iranian ambassador to Azerbaijan is in its final stage.

“Considering the process of normalising relations with the Republic of Azerbaijan, necessary steps have been taken, and the process of appointing the ambassador is in its final stage,” Baqaei noted, Caliber.Az reports, citing Iranian media outlets.

It is crucial to mention that the comments come amid continued efforts by both countries to rebuild trust and strengthen diplomatic engagement following tensions caused by the attack on the Azerbaijani embassy in Tehran in January 2023.

The incident occurred on January 27, 2023, at 08:30 Baku time. Iranian citizen Yasin Hosseinzadeh, armed with a Kalashnikov rifle, broke through the embassy’s security post, killed the head of security, Orkhan Asgarov, and wounded security service employees Vasif Taghiyev and Mahir Imanov, who attempted to stop the attack. Following the incident, Azerbaijan suspended the diplomatic mission’s activities, labelling the incident a "terrorist act."

The attack significantly strained diplomatic relations between the two countries. Baku demanded that Iran investigate the case and punish the perpetrator. The embassy staff and their families were evacuated to Baku on January 29, 2023.

In the aftermath, Iran initiated legal proceedings against the attacker, who was indicted in an Iranian court. Tehran's police confirmed his arrest shortly after the attack. 

In the subsequent legal proceedings, Hosseinzadeh was sentenced to death by an Iranian court. The Supreme Court upheld the sentence, and the case has been forwarded to Tehran’s Criminal Enforcement Division for execution. However, the execution has not yet been carried out, and the assailant remains in custody.

Over time, both nations have taken steps to mend ties. Iranian and Azerbaijani foreign ministers held multiple meetings to discuss steps for normalisation, including talks on border security, trade, and transportation. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, after taking office, expressed his commitment to deepening ties with Azerbaijan across all sectors, including political, economic, cultural, and security cooperation.  

Moreover, Pezeshkian's official visit to Baku on April 28, 2025, marked a significant step toward mending and strengthening relations between Iran and Azerbaijan. This visit was the first by an Iranian president to Azerbaijan in six years.

By Khagan Isayev