The Iranian news agency reported on Friday that Iran has expelled four diplomats from Azerbaijan following a similar move by Baku a month earlier, highlighting the deterioration of relations between the two neighbors. The agency did not provide further details about the action, which came after Azerbaijan announced in April that it would expel four Iranian diplomats due to what it described as "provocative actions."
Iran has sharply criticized Azerbaijan for its closeness to Israel, with Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian stating that he views the relationship between Azerbaijan and Israel as "hostile" to Iran. Azerbaijan's efforts to improve its relations with Israel have been one of the causes of tension, escalating when Baku opened its embassy in Israel in late March.
During the dispute, Azerbaijan indicated that Iran might be linked to an assassination attempt against an Azerbaijani opposition figure. Tehran denies the accusation. A large number of Azerbaijanis live in northwestern Iran.
