Iran executed a man on Wednesday convicted of the January 2023 shooting at Azerbaijan’s embassy in Tehran, which killed the embassy’s security chief. The Iranian judiciary’s Mizan news outlet confirmed the execution.
The attack, which Azerbaijan called an “act of terrorism,” severely strained relations between Tehran and Baku. Iranian authorities claimed the assault was driven by “personal reasons,” with the defendant stating during his trial that he believed his wife was at the embassy and had refused to meet him. He said he brought a Kalashnikov rifle to the embassy in response.
In a statement, Azerbaijan’s Foreign Ministry expressed that it had anticipated the “harshest punishment” for the attack, confirming that two embassy staff members were present to witness the execution.
Tensions between the two countries have been high, with Azerbaijan accusing Iran of mistreating its ethnic Azeri minority, while Iran has raised concerns over Azerbaijan’s growing ties with Israel and potential border shifts following the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict.
Last month, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian visited Baku and reiterated Tehran’s desire to resolve bilateral issues and strengthen relations.