Iran alleges Israeli ‘false flag’ behind drone attack in Azerbaijan

Tehran: Iran has blamed Israel for the drone attack in Azerbaijan. Iran has said that Israel is trying to damage its relations with neighboring countries. Iranian Foreign Minister Araghchi made these allegations against Israel during a phone call with Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov. He denied any attack on Azerbaijan.

According to a statement from Iran's Foreign Ministry, they said that Israel is carrying out such attacks to change public opinion about Iran and to disrupt its relations with neighboring countries, and Iran condemns such attacks. At least four people were injured in a drone attack in Azerbaijan, near the Iranian border.

Is Israel's False Flag Operation or Is Iran Lying?

Iran has blamed Israel for the attack on Azerbaijan, but it had previously launched a ballistic missile attack on Turkey, which was intercepted by NATO air defense systems. A NATO spokesperson has dismissed Turkey's allegation that the missile was heading towards a military base in Cyprus as false. NATO spokesperson Alison Hart has condemned Iran's attack on Turkey.

Earlier on Thursday, the Turkish Defense Minister said that NATO defense systems had "intercepted and deflected a ballistic missile fired from Iran that was heading towards Turkey," but he did not provide any further details.

Azerbaijan vows revenge

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has accused Iran of spreading "terrorism." He vowed retaliation after the drone strike. Baku has stated that the attacks involved at least four drones that entered the Nakhichevan region, bordering Azerbaijan, from Iran. President Aliyev told a hastily convened Security Council meeting that "Today, a terrorist act was carried out by Iran against Azerbaijani territory."

He added that the Azerbaijani army has been "instructed to be ready for retaliatory action, placed on mobilization level number one, and must be prepared for any operation." Israel and Azerbaijan have very close defense ties. The strong relationship between the two countries allows Azerbaijan to distinguish between Iranian and Israeli drones.

Will Iran attack Israel's oil supply lines?

Iran has attempted to implicate Israel in the attack on Azerbaijan, but Azerbaijan does not believe Iranian claims. Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry spokesman Aykhan Hajizadeh told AFP, "We have demanded that the Islamic Republic of Iran provide clear information about the matter and investigate it within the shortest possible time."

Geopolitical experts say that Azerbaijan's Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline, which passes through neighboring Georgia and Turkey and supplies about a third of Israel's oil imports, could now be attacked by Iranian forces. Ilham Shaban, director of the Center for Oil Research in Baku, told AFP that in 2024, Azerbaijan exported 2.37 million tons of oil to Israel through the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline. Israel buys about 40% of its crude oil needs from Azerbaijan.

Will Israel attack Iran from Azerbaijan?

Ilham Shaban stated that "the pipeline is buried underground for most of its route, making it difficult to shut down, but above-ground locations, such as terminals and pumping stations, could still be vulnerable to Iranian drone attacks." Iran, on the other hand, has long expressed concern that Israel, a close ally of Azerbaijan and a key arms supplier, could use Azerbaijani territory to attack Iran.

Although Azerbaijan assured Iran last June that it would not allow its territory to be used against Iran, Iran considers both Azerbaijan and Israel a challenge. Azerbaijan has historical and border disputes with Iran. Israel views Azerbaijan as an intelligence post on Iran's borders from which it can monitor Iran's activities.