Baku: Azerbaijan's Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov and his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi expressed deep concern over the increasing tensions in the Middle East during a phone call on Monday. The two ministers emphasized the urgent need for diplomatic efforts to bring an end to the ongoing military clashes, as stated by Azerbaijan's Foreign Ministry.

According to Anadolu Agency, Bayramov and Araghchi also discussed bilateral issues of mutual interest. The heightened alert in the region follows the US and Israel's air offensive against Iran on February 28, resulting in over 1,340 deaths, including the then-Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

In response, Iran has conducted drone and missile strikes on Israel, Jordan, Iraq, and Gulf countries hosting US military assets. These actions have led to casualties and infrastructure damage, further affecting global markets and aviation.