Grand Mufti of the Caucasus Allahshukur Pashazade has slammed Iran for being “the brother of Armenia.”

Pashazade made the remarks when expressing condolences over the attack on Baku’s embassy in Tahran.

“We brought a shahid from Iran, which we considered fraternal. Now we know that they are not our brothers, they are the brothers of Armenia,” the cleric said, although it is unclear why he would reference Armenia in his remarks.

Azerbaijani-Iranian relations have been strained over the past two years. The situation worsened in recent months when Iran held two large-scale drills near the border with Azerbaijan. Iran has also opposed the opening of a “corridor” through Armenia, which Azerbaijan has been demanding since the end of the 2020 war in Nagorno Karabakh.