BAKU (Dispatches) -- Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces Major General Muhammad Baqeri said here Thursday the Islamic Republic is resolved to strengthen its military ties with Azerbaijan Republic.
The top general, who was heading a top military delegation to Azerbaijan, made the remarks in a meeting with Azerbaijan’s parliament speaker Ogtay Asadov.
During the meeting, the Iranian military commander called for strengthening of ties with Azerbaijan in all areas as he underlined the need for peaceful resolution of regional disputes and protection of Iranian borders and expressed the Islamic Republic’s support for Azerbaijan’s sovereignty.
"Today the development of mutual ties between Iran and Azerbaijan is highly significant,” he said.
Asadov described the ties between Iran and Azerbaijan as friendly and said there are lots of commonalities between the two sides. "There are appropriate grounds for strengthening mutual ties based on good faith and common values,” he said.
Asadov reminded that the presidents of Iran and Azerbaijan have made 12 reciprocal visits to Tehran and Baku and held extensive talks on mutual interests in the past five years.
"The high-level talks have had positive effects on the two sides’ relations so much so that the trade volume of the two sides increased from $257 million in 2017 to $400 million in the first nine months of 2018,” he noted.

Asadov expressed hope that the operation of the International North-South Transport Corridor would help the two sides further develop their trade ties.
 On Wednesday, Baqeri and Azerbaijan’s Defense Minister Zakir Hasanov signed an agreement aimed at boosting defense and military cooperation between the two neighbors.
Speaking to reporters afterwards, Baqeri said both sides explored ways to bolster bilateral defense ties during the meeting.
He said Iran reiterated its support for the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan and underlined the need for expanding cooperation in the fields of logistics and training as well as an exchange of military experiences.
Hasanov said the two sides discussed "highly important” issues. He also expressed confidence that the visit would further enhance "bilateral military cooperation to the highest level.”