Azerbaijan has reopened its border crossings with Iran to cargo traffic after temporarily suspending them following a cross-border drone incident earlier this week, Russian state news agency TASS reported on Monday. The border points, which form one of the shortest land routes connecting Iran to its ally Russia, were closed after what Azerbaijani officials described as an Iranian drone strike in the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic.
The temporary closure had halted the movement of cargo vehicles, affecting bilateral trade and regional transit. The crossings were restored early on March 9, according to Azerbaijani government sources, signaling a partial return to economic normalcy after days of disruption.
The drone incident, which occurred on March 5, reportedly targeted civilian infrastructure, including Nakhchivan’s international airport, injuring four people. Azerbaijan briefly closed its southern airspace and evacuated its diplomatic staff from Tehran and Tabriz in response. Iran denied involvement, stating that it does not target neighbouring countries and that it is investigating the incident. A phone call between Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev reportedly took place, during which Tehran reiterated its denial of responsibility.
The reopening of the border is seen as an effort to stabilize trade and reduce tensions after the sudden escalation. No independent confirmation has been published regarding responsibility for the drone activity, and formal investigations are ongoing in both capitals.