Iran’s recent drone and missile attacks targeting Israel have significant security and policy implications for Azerbaijan, a country caught between its close cooperation with Israel and its powerful neighbor Iran.
Azerbaijan’s military ties with Israel, including the supply of Israeli hi-tech drones and hardware that proved decisive in Azerbaijan’s victorious war against Armenia over Nagorno-Karabakh, have long been a source of concern for Iran. Geopolitically, Iran is wary of Azerbaijan’s attempts to establish a link to its Nakhchivan exclave via the Zangezur corridor through Armenian territory, seeing it as a threat to its access to the Caucasus and Black Sea regions.
In a show of force, Iran has conducted military drills along its northern border with Azerbaijan and issued stern warnings against any changes to international borders. Azerbaijan’s pro-Israeli stance, including the provocative statements made by the Israeli foreign minister during a visit to the newly opened Azerbaijani embassy in Israel, has only exacerbated Iran’s anxious attitude.
As tensions between Iran and Israel escalate into open military confrontation, Azerbaijan finds itself in an increasingly precarious situation. While Israel provides vital military support, Iran is a powerful neighbor with whom Azerbaijan shares over 600 kilometers of border.
The situation has been further complicated by recent incidents. The Azerbaijani embassy in Tehran was attacked by an armed man, resulting in the death of embassy personnel. In response, Azerbaijan recalled its diplomatic staff, including the ambassador. Iran insists the attack was personally motivated by an Iranian man angered over an alleged family violence case involving his wife at the embassy. Tensions rose further when Iran reportedly recalled its own envoy from Azerbaijan after the envoy gave an interview to a female reporter in the embassy without a headscarf, contravening Iran’s sharia law and sparking protests from hardliners.
Azerbaijan’s own diplomatic missteps and overall unprofessionalism have also played a role in worsening the situation. The Azerbaijani envoy in Iran has been criticized for insensitive actions, such as meeting foreign diplomats before presenting credentials and mishandling security processes at the embassy.
As the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry continues to commit blunders and missteps, navigating the delicate balance between its Israeli ally and its powerful Iranian neighbor becomes increasingly challenging. With poor and corrupt diplomacy, it will be difficult for Azerbaijan to navigate this complex issue, where it must carefully manage its relations with Israel, a vital military partner, and Iran, a hostile neighbor with historical interests in the region.
The escalating tensions between Iran and Israel have placed Azerbaijan in an awkward and potentially dangerous position, testing its ability to maintain its strategic partnerships while avoiding being caught in the crossfire of regional conflicts.
