TEHRAN The Iranian Embassy in Baku, in a statement issued Tuesday, criticized the Azeri daily Yeni Azerbaijan for publishing an article titled, Palestine Becomes Iran's Hostage'.

The embassy expressed surprise over the publication of the article by the daily, which is affiliated to the New Azerbaijan Party. The move is certainly taken in support of the Zionists and the usurper Zionist regime.

The statement further condemned the article as a baseless report aimed to play down the struggle of the Palestinian nation against the Zionists.

It said the Azerbaijan Republic, which has been suffering from an occupation which has made many of its nationals refugees, is expected to support the oppressed people of Palestine and join the international community and world Muslims in support of the Palestinian cause.

It also dismissed the daily's unfounded claim that Iran provides Palestinian fighters with arms.

Such claims, which stem from the Zionist propaganda, seek to divert world attention from the atrocities and violent suppression of the Palestinian nation's struggle.