Armenia and Azerbaijan hold Security Council meetings amid rising tensions linked to Iran

(Horizon Weekly / YEREVAN) – Amid rapidly escalating tensions involving Iran and the wider Middle East, both Armenia and Azerbaijan convened high-level Security Council meetings on March 5 to assess the evolving regional security environment and outline their respective responses.

In Baku, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev chaired a meeting of Azerbaijan’s Security Council, where he claimed that Iran had carried out a drone attack against targets in the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic. According to Aliyev, unmanned aerial vehicles allegedly launched from Iran struck civilian infrastructure, including facilities at Nakhchivan International Airport as well as other civilian sites. Describing the incident as a “terrorist act,” the Azerbaijani president said Azerbaijan had demanded an official explanation and apology from Tehran and called for those responsible to be held accountable.

Aliyev announced that Azerbaijan’s armed forces, including the Ministry of Defence, the State Border Service, and special forces units, had been placed on the highest level of combat readiness and instructed to prepare potential retaliatory measures if necessary. He also stated that Iran’s ambassador to Azerbaijan had been summoned to the foreign ministry and that a formal protest note would be delivered.

At the same time, Aliyev reiterated Baku’s position that Azerbaijani territory would not be used for operations against neighbouring states, while warning that Azerbaijan was prepared to defend itself against what he described as hostile actions.

In Yerevan, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan also convened a meeting of Armenia’s Security Council to review regional developments related to Iran and the broader Middle East. The session was attended by President Vahagn Khachaturyan, National Assembly Speaker Alen Simonyan, and other senior officials.

During the meeting, the head of Armenia’s Foreign Intelligence Service, Kristinne Grigoryan, delivered a comprehensive briefing on developments surrounding Iran and ongoing events in the Middle East. Security Council Secretary Armen Grigoryan also presented a report on the activities of an interagency working group established to coordinate the government’s response to regional developments.

According to the Armenian government, participants expressed deep concern over the unfolding events and conveyed condolences for the victims of the recent violence. Officials also emphasized the importance of rapidly establishing stability and peace in the region.

The near-simultaneous Security Council meetings in both countries underscore the heightened regional anxiety triggered by the latest escalation involving Iran and its potential spillover effects across the South Caucasus.