Tehran could destabilize region; Nakhichevan was first signal – Grigor Balasanyan

Speaking with Alpha News, international relations expert Grigor Balasanyan discussed recent regional developments, particularly the strike by Iranian drones near Nakhichevan’s airport and its potential consequences.

According to Balasanyan, the incident was not accidental and should be viewed in a broader political context. He noted that Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev’s special relationship with Israel and the results achieved in the Karabakh issue through that partnership “come at a price,” which, in the expert’s view, is now becoming visible.

“This is a warning to Aliyev. The bombing of Nakhichevan’s airport was a message,” Balasanyan said, adding that Azerbaijani airports built near the Ararat region could also be targeted in the future. He did not rule out further strikes in that direction.

Commenting on Baku’s statements, the expert argued that Tehran is unlikely to take them seriously.

“The Iranians know very well the capabilities of Azerbaijan’s army. If any step is taken, Azerbaijan could find itself in a very difficult situation,” he emphasized.

Balasanyan further pointed out that the drone strike demonstrated the inability of Israeli-made air defense systems deployed along Nakhichevan’s airport to prevent the attack.