TEHRAN -- Iran and Azerbaijan began two days of joint naval exercises in the Caspian Sea on Monday, signaling improving ties between the neighbors amid soaring regional tensions.
“The combined aid and rescue exercise in the Caspian Sea between the countries of the Islamic Republic of Iran and Azerbaijan, hosted by the Iranian Navy, is being held in Bandar Anzali” in northwestern Iran, IRNA reported.
The exercises, dubbed AZIREX2024 and bearing the slogan of “cooperation for peace and friendship”, would last for two days, it added.
IRNA said two Azerbaijani vessels would join the Iranian destroyer Deylaman for the exercises.
According to Iranian Navy commander Rear Admiral Shahram Irani, the operation was to maintain maritime safety in the region.
A variety of naval vessels were seen streaming through the body of water, with a helicopter flying above.
The Caspian Sea, the largest inland body of water in the world, lies between Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan, with Russia to the north and Iran and Turkmenistan to the south.
Relations between the two countries soured in January 2023, when a gunman stormed into Baku’s embassy in Tehran, killing a diplomat and wounding two guards.
Iran’s foreign ministry at the time strongly condemned the attack, saying the motivations behind it were “personal”.
President Masoud Pezeshkian will take part in the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29) to be held in Baku, his chief of staff confirmed on Monday. 
The event will take place in the Azerbaijani capital from November 11 to 22. The conference aims to mitigate harmful human impacts on the climate system.  
The upcoming conference presents a crucial opportunity for young voices to contribute to the global climate dialogue, emphasizing the importance of youth engagement in shaping the future of environmental policies and actions.