Saudi Arabia condemns Iran's attempted attack on Turkey and Azerbaijan

The Saudi government condemned Iran’s attempt to target Turkey and Azerbaijan with missile and drone attacks, the fallout of Tehran’s war with the United States and Israel. Riyadh said the actions could not be justified. As reported by Al Arabiya on Friday, 6 March 2026, the Saudi Foreign Ministry described Iran’s actions against the two countries as ‘criminal’. ‘The Kingdom emphasises that criminal acts against these two countries, and Iran’s repeated belligerent behaviour toward regional states, show an aggressive approach that cannot be justified under any circumstances,’ the ministry said. ‘This conduct clearly violates international law, norms and the principles of good neighbourliness, and pushes the region toward further escalation.’ The Foreign Ministry reaffirmed ‘full solidarity with Turkey and Azerbaijan, both the governments and their peoples, and emphasised their right to defend their security, airspace, territorial integrity and their citizens.’ ‘Saudi Arabia also commends efforts to avoid escalation and to address regional security and stability,’ the statement added. Azerbaijan said it would retaliate after two drones crossing the border from Iran hit the airport and areas near a school in Nakhichevan, the Azerbaijani exclave bordered by Iran and separated from the mainland by Armenia. Azerbaijani authorities reported at least four people injured in the Thursday incident. Meanwhile Turkey reported that a ballistic munition fired from Iran toward its airspace on Wednesday, 4 March, was intercepted and neutralised by NATO air and missile defence units stationed in the Eastern Mediterranean. The Turkish Ministry of National Defence said the projectile was detected after passing through Iraq and Syria. The exact target of the missile was not clearly known. Iran denied attacking Turkey and Azerbaijan. The Iranian Armed Forces said they respect the territorial integrity of Turkey, describing Turkey as a neighbouring country. ‘The Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran deny having fired any missiles at Turkey,’ said the Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces in a statement, as reported by Press TV. Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi rejected that Iran targeted Nakhichevan with drone attacks. ‘We do not attack our neighbouring countries,’ Gharibabadi asserted.