Leaked Documents Expose Details of Attack on Azerbaijani Embassy in Iran

A hacker group affiliated with Mujahideen Khalq (MX) organization of the opposition in exile, called "Rebellion until the Overthrow," claimed to have released confidential documents related to the government. These documents are related to the attack on the Azerbaijani Embassy in Tehran earlier this year.

Some of the leaked documents contain previously unknown details about the attack on the embassy, the identity of the attacker, and his ideological ties to the Chechens and his family. It is also known from the leaked documents that the police guarding the embassy left their post immediately after the attack. The documents state that it took 20 minutes for law enforcement agencies to arrive at the scene.

Leaked documents say that this attack not only closed the window of hope for the normalization of relations between the two countries but also opened the way for new escalations. Some documents say there is a need to re-evaluate the relations with Azerbaijan. It is also noted that some documents were sent to several high-ranking Iranian officials, including the foreign minister. Some records contain strategic recommendations. Certain documents suggest fostering a rift between Azerbaijani society and its government, while others discuss the impact of Russia and Israel on Azerbaijan.

Azerbaijan Urges Its Citizens Not to Visit Iran

On June 3, Azerbaijan's Foreign Ministry urged its citizens not to visit Iran.

"Taking into account the terrorist act committed against the Azerbaijani embassy in Iran in January of this year and our limited diplomatic representation in Iran. As a result, citizens of Azerbaijan are strongly advised not to travel to Iran unless necessary, and those who do, are strongly advised to exercise extreme caution," the travel warning of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan stated. 

The Ministry also informed that the citizens of Azerbaijan currently in Iran are required not to comply with the safety and security regulations. The notice stated that Azerbaijani citizens in Iran could contact the Consulate General of Azerbaijan in Tabriz for consular and other applications.

Notably, on February 20 of this year, it became known that Farid Safarli, a citizen of Azerbaijan about whom there is no information, was arrested on charges of espionage in this country on June 1 after leaving Germany for Iran.

Iran's Cultural Center in Azerbaijan Closed

On June 2, Iran's Cultural Center in Baku was closed. 

"After the head of Iran's Cultural Center in Baku was expelled from the country, the closure of this center is an excuse of the Azerbaijani government regarding the recent disagreements between the two countries," an unnamed source added.

"Iran has always had good intentions in its relations with its neighbors and wanted to solve the problems between the two countries through dialogue, avoiding irrational, emotional, and tension-increasing actions. Iran has a lot of property in Baku, and the latest actions are a one-sided and hasty excuse by the Azerbaijani side regarding the property belonging to the Iranian government, which, of course, can be resolved through dialogue," the source stated.

As previously reported by Caucasus Watch, on May 26, the Central Bank of Azerbaijan (CBA) restricted the activities of the Baku branch of the National Bank of Iran (Bank Melli Iran-Baku).