Raisi: No Limit to Expansion of Iran-Azerbaijan Ties
TEHRAN -- Iran’s President Ebrahim Raisi on Monday called for the all-out and unlimited expansion of relations and cooperation between the Islamic Republic and Azerbaijan. In a meeting with Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov, the president said increased diplomatic exchanges and consultations between the two countries will have a positive impact on the expansion of Tehran-Baku relations and cooperation in various trade, economic and political fields.
Noting that there are no limits for the development of Iran’s relations with the Republic of Azerbaijan, Raisi said, “Promotion of bilateral relations can lead to effective regional cooperation.”
He expressed hope that the two countries would witness a leap in the development of relations after an expected visit by Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev to Tehran.
The Iranian and Azeri presidents held a meeting on the sidelines of the 6th summit of the heads of the Caspian Sea littoral states in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, late last month.
The Azerbaijani foreign minister, for his part, said officials of the two countries have increased the exchange of their diplomatic visits in recent years.
Bayramov emphasized that both Iran and Azerbaijan believe that regional issues must be settled by regional countries without interference of foreign powers.
In a post on his twitter account, the Iranian foreign minister said he had held “important and cordial” talks with his Azeri counterpart.
Amir-Abdollahian added that the two sides discussed bilateral, regional and international issues and stressed the importance of settling the Karabakh conflict based on the principles of safeguarding territorial integrity and respecting national sovereignty.
He emphasized that ties between Tehran and Baku are on the right track and noted that Aliyev’s trip to Tehran has been put on the agenda of both sides.