Tensions escalated between Iran and Azerbaijan on Thursday after Baku accused Tehran of launching drone strikes that wounded two civilians, an allegation the Iranian military quickly denied. Azerbaijani officials said the drones struck targets in the exclave region of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, raising fears of a broader regional confrontation amid already heightened geopolitical tensions.

Iran’s armed forces rejected the accusation in a statement carried by state television, insisting that the country had not launched any drone attacks on Azerbaijan. The general staff of the armed forces said the Islamic Republic “denies its armed forces launched a drone toward the Republic of Azerbaijan" and suggested the incident could be linked to actions by Israel, which Tehran accused of attempting to disrupt relations between Muslim countries. Iranian authorities argued that such tactics were not unprecedented and were aimed at escalating tensions in the region.

According to Azerbaijan’s foreign ministry, at least two drones crossed into the Nakhchivan region from Iranian territory around midday. One drone reportedly crashed into the terminal building of Nakhchivan International Airport, while another fell near a school building in the village of Shekerabad. Officials said the incidents injured two civilians and caused damage to airport infrastructure, prompting an immediate security response from Azerbaijani authorities.

Also Read: Pentagon Planning Points To 100-Day Intelligence Surge As Iran Conflict Timeline Expands

Azerbaijan’s defence ministry said the country was preparing retaliatory measures in response to what it described as an attack on its sovereignty. Officials stated that steps were being taken to “protect the territorial integrity and sovereignty of our country and to ensure the safety of civilians and civilian infrastructure". The ministry added that the strikes would not go unanswered, signalling the possibility of military or diplomatic retaliation if responsibility for the incident is confirmed.

The diplomatic fallout was swift, with Azerbaijan’s Foreign Ministry summoning Iran’s envoy in Baku to lodge a formal protest. Azerbaijani officials said the attack contradicted international legal norms and risked further destabilising the region. The government warned that Azerbaijan reserved the right to take “appropriate retaliatory measures” while urging Tehran to clarify its position and prevent further escalation along the sensitive border region.

Relations between Iran and Azerbaijan have been strained in recent years, partly due to Baku’s close strategic ties with Israel, a key supplier of military equipment. Tehran has repeatedly expressed concern that Israeli forces could potentially use Azerbaijani territory to launch operations against Iran. In June last year, Azerbaijan publicly assured Iran that it would not allow its territory to be used for attacks against Tehran following large-scale Israeli strikes on Iranian targets, but lingering mistrust and geopolitical rivalries continue to complicate relations between the neighbouring countries.

Also Read: International Women’s Day 2026 Highlights Women’s Achievements Worldwide