Baku accused Iran of plotting terrorist attacks on Azerbaijani territory.
The State Security Service of Azerbaijan reported the thwarting of several terrorist attacks planned by Iranian intelligence agencies in the country. The Baku-Ceyhan oil pipeline and the Israeli Embassy in Azerbaijan were named as the targets.
As reported by the "Caucasian Knot," on March 5, four people were injured in a drone attack on the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic. The head of the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry demanded an explanation from Iran, and a member of parliament called on the neighboring country to apologize for the drone attack. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev called the attack "a deliberate terrorist attack by Iran," and the Azerbaijani army was put on alert.
The drone attack on the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic was likely deliberate, but Azerbaijan will initially limit itself to diplomatic and political measures, avoiding direct military escalation, analysts in Baku suggested. Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi stated that the Islamic Republic did not strike Azerbaijan.
The State Security Service of Azerbaijan has released information about the thwarting of several terrorist attacks planned by Iranian intelligence services in the country. According to the agency, the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) was planning attacks on the Baku-Ceyhan oil pipeline, the Israeli embassy in Azerbaijan, and the Ashkenazi synagogue. One of the leaders of the Mountain Jewish community was also among the targets of the terrorist attacks.
Several explosive devices were transported to Azerbaijan for terrorist attacks; they have already been discovered and defused. "Seven kilograms and seventy-three grams of C-4 explosives were found in a container located near the village of Shikhov in the Sabail district," Report reports, citing a report from the state television channel AzTV.
Two more remote-controlled explosive devices with the same type of explosives "were hidden in different locations." Additionally, a 1,280-gram bomb with a blast radius of 250-300 meters was discovered in the Garadagh district.
The organizer of the terrorist attack, according to the department, was an IRGC intelligence officer with the rank of colonel. Azerbaijan has placed four more Iranian citizens on the wanted list for suspected involvement in the attacks.
In addition, at least seven Azerbaijani citizens are in custody in connection with the case of preparing terrorist attacks. Tarkhan Guliyev, who, according to the State Security Service, participated in the delivery of explosive devices into the country, as well as Nijat Agayev, Asad Abdullayev, and Rashad Rustamov, have already been sentenced to 6.5 years in prison.
Narmina Shabanova and Naib Ismiyev were arrested for preparing an assassination attempt on a public figure, and Elvin Akhmedov was arrested for illegal possession of weapons and explosives, Minval reports, citing the State Security Service.