ISTANBUL

Russia on Saturday called on Azerbaijan and Iran to exercise the “utmost prudence” amid growing tensions between the two countries following a drone strike on the former’s Nakhchivan exclave earlier this week.

“Regarding the tensions that have arisen between Azerbaijan and Iran, we call on both sides -- our strategic partners -- to exercise the utmost prudence, refrain from ill-considered steps, and avoid creating new dividing lines in the region at the expense of the principle of good-neighborliness,” Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said in a statement.

Zakharova highlighted the importance of reviewing “all the circumstances of any events that could lead to further escalation” amid the current tense situation.

She stated Moscow’s “grave concern” over what she described as the “extremely dangerous” developments in the Middle East caused by US-Israeli strikes on Iran.

“As the Russian side has repeatedly warned, this military adventure could have a profoundly negative impact on the security of all countries in the region, especially Iran's neighbors. And so it has. The current developments are the direct responsibility of the perpetrators of this aggression, as well as those who directly or indirectly support it,” Zakharova said.

She went on to say that Russia is prepared to actively help in finding ways to immediately end the bloodshed in the region, and to provide the necessary assistance to renew political and diplomatic processes.

Zakharova’s remarks come as Baku said Thursday that its Nakhchivan exclave was hit by drones launched from Iranian territory, injuring four people and causing damage to the region’s international airport.

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev accused Iran of committing a "terrorist act" and said his country must be given an explanation by Iranian officials about the incident, an apology must be made, and those who committed the act must be held criminally liable.

Iran denied that any projectiles were launched toward the country amid a call between Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and his Azerbaijani counterpart Jeyhun Bayramov later that day, adding its armed forces were conducting an investigation.

Regional tensions have escalated since the United States and Israel launched a large-scale attack on Iran on Feb. 28, killing more than 1,000 people, including Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, over 150 schoolgirls, and senior military officials.

Iran has retaliated with sweeping barrages of its own that have targeted US bases, diplomatic facilities, and military personnel across the region, as well as multiple Israeli cities. The attacks have continued to escalate.