Although Azerbaijan has shown adherence to the principles of good-neighborliness during the conflict with Iran, the clerical regime revealed its true nature by launching an attack on Nakhchivan. The fact that the attack occurred one day after President Ilham Aliyev visited the Iranian embassy and offered condolences on the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader demonstrates that the clerical regime continues its hostile policy toward Azerbaijan.

The ungrateful and hypocritical policy of the clerical regime in Iran toward Azerbaijan is unsurprising. The same regime actively supported Armenia during the 44-day war, and afterward declared the Armenian border a “red line.” It was also this regime that gathered forces along Azerbaijan’s border to defend Armenian interests and carried out a terrorist attack against our embassy in Tehran. The regime that attacked Nakhchivan remains true to its character.

The most alarming and dangerous aspect for us is the agents of the clerical regime within our own society. Immediately after the U.S.–Iran war began, these defenders of the regime became active on social media, attempting to manipulate Azerbaijani public opinion. While one might consider this their personal choice during wartime, their defense of the clerical regime during Iran’s deliberate terrorist attack on Nakhchivan constitutes treason against the homeland.

Iran carried out a drone attack on Nakhchivan. During the assault with four UAVs, both the airport and a school were targeted. One UAV was neutralized by our forces. The UAV targeting the school missed its mark, while the airport was struck, resulting in injuries to civilians.

Both sides attempt to deny responsibility for the attack. One is the Iranian regime, the other its agents in Azerbaijan. They claim that “this attack is a provocation by parties seeking to pit Azerbaijan against Iran” or that “attacking Azerbaijan is not in Iran’s interest while it is at war with the U.S. and Israel”. Their aim is to shift attention away from the terrorist attack carried out by the regime they serve and to distort the facts.

Measures must be taken against these claims, which are designed to confuse Azerbaijani public opinion in defense of the clerical regime.

First, Azerbaijani society must remain vigilant and resist provocation-driven disinformation.

Second, such claims and disinformation should be investigated immediately, and the public must be informed.

Third and most importantly, the agents of the clerical regime who attempt to manipulate public opinion must be exposed.

The actions of these individuals have a name: treason against the homeland. Those who currently serve the clerical regime on social media and act against their own country must face the strictest measures. This necessity arises from the principles of public and state security.