TEHRAN Ali Akbar Ahmadian, Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, consulted with Azerbaijans President Ilham Aliyev in Baku on Wednesday.The 2 officials highlighted reinforcing cooperation across political, security, defense, and economic areas.
They agreed to enhance economic relations, particularly focusing on energy and transportation corridors.Ahmadian stressed Iran's dedication to removing challenges and assisting in joint projects, aiming to boost bilateral ties.Aliyev highlighted the strong historic, spiritual, and cultural connections in between the 2 countries, mentioning, The relations in between Iran and Azerbaijan over the past 3 years have actually been exceptional.
He likewise revealed Azerbaijans strong interest in using the North-South Corridor and leveraging the capability of the Persian Gulf through the Aghband transit route.Further, Aliyev discussed his initiative for dealing with South Caucasus disputes within the 3 +3 framework, promoting for local cooperation to fix local issues.Both officials revealed strategies to establish a joint financial commission quickly and revealed complete satisfaction with existing military cooperation, consisting of joint military exercises.Ahmadians check out to Baku was at Azerbaijans invitation.
He is reportedly next scheduled to visit Yerevan for discussions with Armenian officials, likewise at their invitation.Baku-Yerevan tensionsIrans current diplomatic engagement occurs amidst intensifying stress between Azerbaijan and Armenia, mostly over the Nagorno-Karabakh region.
This enduring competition has magnified, with both countries implicating each other of military justifications and border violations.
Regardless of require de-escalation, the situation remains precarious.Since self-reliance, Azerbaijan and Armenia have actually been embroiled in numerous territorial disputes.
An essential turning point was in September 2023, when Azerbaijani forces took control of Nagorno-Karabakh, an area recognized internationally as Azerbaijani, however previously governed by ethnic Armenians.
This resulted in nearly the entire Armenian population (roughly 100,000 individuals) leaving the region.Currently, as Yerevan and Baku pursue bilateral talks targeted at normalizing relations and addressing border issues, Armenian officials have revealed concerns that Azerbaijan might be getting ready for additional military actions.
Last December, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan noted that Azerbaijan had gotten proposals regarding two key unresolved issues but had not yet responded.In a current interview, Aliyev identified Armenia a fascist state, asserting that Baku may have no choice but to ruin its next-door neighbors fascist ideology.
Iran has consistently called for a serene resolution, advising both celebrations to engage in discussion and avoid more hostilities.
The Iranian federal government has actually likewise expressed concern for the humanitarian effect of the dispute on civilians.Another point of contention is the proposed Zangezur Corridor, planned to link Azerbaijans Nakhchivan exclave to the remainder of the nation through Armenian territory.The proposition has actually faced strong opposition from Armenia, which fears it might weaken its sovereignty.
Iran has also opposed the Zangezur Corridor, seeing it as a hazard to its territorial stability and regional impact.
The corridor is developed to isolate Iran from land access to Armenia, dismantling borders that have existed for centuries.