Iranian Ambassador Returns To Azerbaijan

Iranian envoy to Azerbaijan Mohammad Bagir Bahrami (left) at a press conference in Baku (file photo).

The Iranian Embassy in Azerbaijan says Tehran's ambassador to Baku has returned after more than a month's absence.

The press service of the Iranian Embassy said Ambassador Mohammad Bagir Bahrami “resumed discharge of his duties" on June 22.

The Iranian Foreign Ministry recalled the ambassador for consultations on May 21 after Azerbaijan accused Tehran of pushing anti-Azerbaijani propaganda in the period around the international Eurovision 2012 song contest that was held in Baku on May 22-26.

Tensions between the Islamic republic and mainly Muslim but officially secular Azerbaijan have escalated in recent months, including over alleged plots by men with links to Iran to attack Azerbaijani targets, and over Azerbaijani ties to Iranian rival Israel.

Based on reporting by Interfax and ITAR-TASS