Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has called for a formal apology from Iran after a state-affiliated cleric in Ardabil made derogatory remarks targeting him and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Aliyev emphasized the need for accountability, urging Iran to dismiss the cleric and take tangible action against such provocations.
While Iran’s Hassan Ameli distanced the regime from the comments, labeling them as personal opinions, the incident has fueled long-standing tensions.
Aliyev also highlighted unresolved issues, including Iran’s alleged support for Armenian forces during the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and the lack of accountability for the 2023 attack on Azerbaijan’s embassy in Tehran.
This incident underscores deepening diplomatic rifts as Azerbaijan pushes back against Iran’s actions in the region.
