TEHRAN -- A military delegation from Iran has concluded its visit to Azerbaijan. 

The group visited territories liberated from Armenia’s occupation during the 2020 Karabakh war, including the Barda and Tartar districts which suffered heavy artillery and rocket attacks during the 44-day conflict. Relations between Iran and Azerbaijan soured during the war but they have since been improved due to persistent diplomatic initiatives last year.

Relations between Iran and Azerbaijan may continue to warm, leading to further economic cooperation in the short term. 

On the table is the construction of three joint power plants in Azerbaijan as well as a trilateral gas deal that would help transport fuel from Turkmenistan. 

Moreover, Tehran may stabilize relations with Baku due to a separate deal that would see Iran tap into Russian energy networks through Azerbaijan. 

In the long-term, these developments indicate a more flexible Iran as cooperation with Baku had previously been made difficult by close ties Baku maintains with the occupying regime of Israel.