Pro-Iran narratives target Azerbaijan’s Jewish war hero amid Israel-Baku disinformation row

· June 19, 2026

The posts appeared amid renewed Iranian and pro-Iranian claims that Azerbaijan is being used as a platform for Israeli operations against Iran.

Jewish National Hero of Azerbaijan Albert Agarunov

(photo credit: SHUTTERSTOCK, VIA CANVA, Wikimedia Commons)

ByJERUSALEM POST

Azerbaijani-language social media posts have circulated in recent weeks questioning the legacy of Albert Agarunov, a Jewish National Hero of Azerbaijan, as Iranian and pro-Iranian accounts renewed claims that Azerbaijan is being used for Israeli operations against Iran.

The posts used phrases such as “the Albert Agarunov lie has collapsed” and described his story as a “forgery.” Some appeared alongside hashtags and language associated with Iranian-supported subversive groups in Azerbaijan, which portray themselves as “opposition” to the country’s secular authorities. Their timing, wording and use of certain language mirror broader pro-Iranian narratives that have targeted Azerbaijan over its ties with Israel.

Some of the accounts present themselves as opposition voices, while using language associated with pro-Iranian and Resistance-linked networks. Their timing, wording and use of certain language mirror broader pro-Iranian narratives that have targeted Azerbaijan over its ties with Israel.

Agarunov, a Mountain Jew from Baku, volunteered during the First Karabakh War, served as a tank commander and was killed on May 8, 1992, during the battle for Shusha. He was later awarded the title of National Hero of Azerbaijan and is buried in Baku’s Alley of Martyrs beneath the flags of Azerbaijan and Israel. A school has been named after him, and a monument was erected in one of Baku’s districts in his honor.

The posts also drew pushback from ordinary Azerbaijani users, many of whom continued to describe Agarunov as a national hero. Israel has long been viewed in Baku as an important defense partner, particularly during and after the Karabakh wars.

Azerbaijan denied the report. Officials in Baku said the claims were baseless and that Azerbaijan does not allow its territory to be used for military operations, intelligence activity or hostile actions against a third state.

Iranian state outlets continue campaign targeting Baku-Jerusalem ties

Iranian state-linked outlets, including Tasnim and Fars News Agency, both widely described as affiliated with the IRGC, have repeatedly alleged that Israel maintains military or intelligence infrastructure in Azerbaijan, near Iran’s northern border. Azerbaijan has consistently denied hosting foreign military bases or allowing attacks against Iran from its territory.

A similar narrative appeared in 2012, when Foreign Policy reported that Israel had gained access to Azerbaijani airfields. Azerbaijan and Israeli officials rejected the claims at the time.

The targeting of Agarunov comes amid broader Azerbaijani concern about Iran-linked disinformation. Azerbaijan’s Milli Majlis Commission on Foreign Interference and Hybrid Threats has previously reported coordinated disinformation involving hundreds of Iran-linked profiles across major platforms.

Baku has repeatedly denied that its territory is used against Iran. The recent posts targeting Agarunov appeared as Iranian and pro-Iranian outlets continued to promote that claim.

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