Iran expelled four Azerbaijani diplomats in tit-for-tat measure

Tehran has expelled four Azerbaijani diplomats after a similar decision by Baku amid heightened tensions between the two neighbors.

The Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) reported on Friday that the diplomats were declared persona non grata last month. They were working at Azerbaijan’s embassy in Tehran and its consulate in the northwestern city of Tabriz.

The news agency said the measure took effect in April. The move is in response to Baku's decision last month to expel four Iranian embassy employees over what it called "provocative actions". 

Baku's decision was announced shortly it said it had arrested six men, who it claimed were linked to Iranian secret services and were plotting a coup in the Caspian nation.

Iran had denounced Azerbaijan’s decision as “radical and unconstructive”, and vowed retaliation.

Foreign Ministry Spokesman Nasser Kan’ani said at the time that the move is in contradiction with good neighborliness principles and is in line with the Israeli regime’s policy of fomenting tensions between Muslim nations.

SS