Iran reacts to Azerbaijan's remarks on embassy attack

Iran's Foreign Ministry Spokesman Nasser Kanaani has reacted to Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev's remarks on the embassy attack in Tehran and said that any prejudged politicisation and media hype should be avoided.

Referring to the attack on the Azerbaijan embassy in Tehran, Kanaani said on February 19 that creating unreasonable interpretations of the incident in the media is not a constructive measure in the course of legal and judicial pursuit of the case, the Iranian Foreign Ministry said in a statement posted on its website reports.

As repeatedly emphasised by the relevant Iranian authorities, the case is going through its legal process, he said, adding that what was notified is based on the assailant's explicit statements and all aspects of this bitter incident are being investigated accurately and expertly.

As stated in the diplomatic messages and contacts of senior political and judicial officials of the two countries, he noted that Iran is ready to provide the Azerbaijani side with the investigation results.

He further said that all the ambiguities and questions that are in the minds of the authorities of the Republic of Azerbaijan would be responded to in the framework of cooperation and a constructive approach.

Iran’s Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian said that personal motives were behind the attack.

Speaking to reporters on February 18, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev said that entities related to the Iranian government were involved in the armed attack, asserting that "normalisation of relations with Iran depends on a transparent investigation that will bring the perpetrators to justice".

One person was killed and two others were injured after an assailant opened fire at the embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan in Tehran on 27 January.

Azerbaijan closed its embassy in Tehran and evacuated the embassy staff following the armed assault which Baku says was "a terrorist attack".