Iran yet to make final decision on assailant of Azerbaijani Embassy in Tehran Statement by Prosecutor General's Office

The Prosecutor General's Office of Azerbaijan has commented on the information about imposition of the death penalty in Iran on the person who committed a terrorist attack against the Azerbaijani Embassy.

The press service of the General Prosecutor's Office told APA that some media and social networks spread information that the perpetrator of the terrorist attack against the Azerbaijani Embassy in Tehran has been sentenced to the death penalty.

"We inform you that the progress of the criminal case being investigated in Iran on the crime is closely monitored by us, and constant communication is maintained with the Iranian side. In accordance with Iranian law, the investigation of the criminal case has been completed and sent to the court. The prosecutor has demanded the most severe punishment for the perpetrator, but at present, the court has not made a final decision. We hope that the court will soon issue a fair verdict, ensuring a deserved punishment for the guilty person," the Prosecutor General's Office said in a statement.

On January 27, Yasin Huseynzadeh carried out an armed attack on the Azerbaijan embassy in Tehran, killing an Azerbaijani security officer and injuring two others.

The gunman, identified as Yasin Hosseinzadeh, was armed with a Kalashnikov rifle when he broke into the embassy building and killed the Azerbaijani officer. He was eventually stopped by the embassy’s security staff after a violent scuffle.

Iran said the attack stemmed from personal reasons, but Baku sees it as an act of terrorism.

Diplomatic activities at the Azerbaijani embassy in Tehran were completely suspended following the incident. However, a few employees remained in the Iranian capital to safeguard the embassy building and properties.

On May 5, Iran declared four Azerbaijani diplomats persona non-grata, including two staff members of the embassy in Tehran and two employees of the consulate in Tabriz. According to Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry’s Spokesperson Aykhan Hajizada, the Iranian decision was a tit-for-tat response to the analogical measure taken by Baku in April this year.

Azerbaijani authorities declared on April 6 four employees of the embassy of the Islamic Republic to Baku Mirmahdi Mirsalampur Sherif, Gurbanali Purmerjan Varjovi, Hadi Moghadam, and Asker Bahari Khosh Menzer persona non grata and gave them 48 hours to leave.

At the time, Baku explained the decision noting activities that were “incompatible with diplomatic status and contradicted the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations”.