Iran-Azerbaijan ties stronger than mere neighbors: President Raeisi

Iran’s President Ebrahim Raeisi says relations with Azerbaijan are stronger than just two neighbors.

He made the remarks alongside his Azerbaijani counterpart Ilham Aliyev on Sunday during the inauguration ceremony of the Qiz Qalasi dam, which was built jointly by Iran and Azerbaijan on the Aras River at the common border.

“As Leader of the Islamic Revolution [Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei] said our relationship with the friendly, brotherly and neighboring country of Azerbaijan goes beyond neighborliness. Our relationship is a strong kinship bond that has roots in the beliefs of the two nations … and connects our history and civilization,” he said.

“This heartfelt relationship between the two countries and the two nations is unbreakable.”

The Iranian chief executive also noted that Tehran-Baku ties should expand to regional and international cooperation.

He further warned that enemies do not want to see progress in Azerbaijan and the Islamic Republic.

“Some may not be happy with the bond between Iran and Azerbaijan, but what is important to us is the interests of the two nations and the two countries.

“Iran believes that any progress in Azerbaijan is its own progress and that any insecurity along the common border will damage both states.”

Iranian, Azerbaijani presidents inaugurate joint Qiz Qalasi border dam

The presidents of Iran and the Republic of Azerbaijan have inaugurated a dam built jointly by the two neighbors on the Aras River at their common border.

Aliyev, for his part, said that the meeting between the Iranian and Azeri presidents has a message for the region and the world.

No one can create misunderstanding and division between two countries, he emphasized, describing developing bilateral relations as positive.

Azerbaijan’s ties with Iran were strained in January last year following an attack on the country’s embassy in Tehran, which prompted Baku to close it and evacuate staff over what it called a “terrorist act.”

An initial Iranian investigation found that the attack was motivated by “personal and family-related problems.”

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