TEHRAN -- Iran has expelled four Azerbaijani diplomats, news agencies reported Friday, saying the move was “in response” to Baku’s expulsion of Iranian embassy staff in April after months of tensions.
“Four diplomats from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan, declared personae non gratae, were expelled from Iran last month,” IRNA said.
It said the Iranian foreign minis Envoy Calls for End to U.S. Sanctions on Iran
ztry’s “action... was carried out in response to Baku’s expulsion of Iranian diplomats.”
Azerbaijan’s foreign ministry early last month said it had notified the Iranian ambassador that “four employees of the Iranian embassy were declared personae non gratae” with 48 hours to leave the country.
Baku accused the embassy staff of carrying out activities “incompatible with diplomatic status” but did not elaborate.
Ties between neighbors Azerbaijan and Iran soured in January as a gunman stormed into Baku’s embassy in Tehran, killed a diplomat and wounded two embassy security guards.
The Azerbaijani foreign ministry blamed Iran for the shooting, with spokesman Ayxan Hacizada claiming an anti-Azerbaijani campaign had “encouraged the attack”.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani said Tehran strongly condemned the attack, saying the motivations behind it were “personal”. An initial investigation also pointed to “personal and family-related problems” as the motive of the assailant.