TEHRAN Iran reopened its consulate in the neighboring Autonomous Azerbaijan Republic of Nakhichevan which was reportedly closed Friday after an attack on the building and its staff last week, a reliable source within the Foreign Ministry said here Monday.
"Following an official apology by Azeri top officials, the consulate of the Islamic Republic of Iran resumed activities in the autonomous Republic of Nakhichevan," the unnamed source said.
The source, however, denied reports of the closure, saying, "Following the attack, the Iranian consulate in Nakhichevan had just conducted its activities at a low level." He said that the attack occurred after an Azerbaijani national was arrested in connection with illegal actions on Iran's soil.
He also rejected any connection of the consulate attack to Iran's recent cutting of electricity supplies to the republic after it failed to pay 45 million dollars in arrears to Tehran.
Iran supplies some 60 percent of Nakhichevan's electricity needs, providing 880 megawatts each day.
(IRNA)