Baku, April 29, 2025 – The Europe Today: President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and President of the Islamic Republic of Iran Masoud Pezeshkian delivered press statements today following high-level talks aimed at further strengthening the long-standing relations between the two neighboring nations.
President Ilham Aliyev, who spoke first, warmly welcomed President Pezeshkian and his delegation to Azerbaijan, expressing confidence that the visit would significantly contribute to the enhancement of Azerbaijani-Iranian friendly and fraternal ties.
“Our peoples have lived in a friendly and fraternal atmosphere for centuries,” President Aliyev stated. “Our interstate relations are developing on this solid foundation today.” He emphasized that the visit, along with the signing of several important agreements — including one at the presidential level — reflected the strong mutual commitment to deepening cooperation.
President Aliyev noted that discussions were held in a sincere and constructive atmosphere, covering a wide range of topics including regional security, trade relations, and multilateral cooperation within international organizations such as the United Nations, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, the Economic Cooperation Organization, and the Non-Aligned Movement.
Highlighting the strategic importance of the North-South transport corridor, President Aliyev emphasized Azerbaijan’s readiness, citing extensive infrastructure development to facilitate increased trade volumes. He also announced plans for renewed cultural exchanges, noting that mutual Days of Culture would soon be organized for the first time in eight years, reinforcing the countries’ deep-rooted historical and cultural ties.
President Aliyev also expressed condolences to the Iranian people for the recent tragedy in Iran, praising President Pezeshkian’s decision to proceed with his visit despite the difficult circumstances. “May Allah protect our peoples from such troubles,” he said, underlining the shared commitment to peace, security, sovereignty, and non-interference in internal affairs.
Following President Aliyev’s remarks, President Masoud Pezeshkian expressed his gratitude for the warm hospitality extended by the Azerbaijani side, reaffirming Iran’s commitment to strengthening relations based on shared history, culture, and faith.
“Our relations are not newly established. We have been together, side by side since time immemorial,” President Pezeshkian said. He likened the Azerbaijani-Iranian border to the close ties between neighbors who support and visit one another, emphasizing the natural affinity between the two nations.
Pezeshkian stressed the need for a strategic, future-oriented roadmap covering all sectors — including industry, science, culture, economy, politics, and security — and announced that both sides had instructed their respective ministers to prepare comprehensive strategic plans. He voiced a vision for robust regional integration through the development of North-South and East-West transport corridors and closer financial and trade relations.
“If we, Muslim countries, regional states, and neighbors join hands and respect each other’s territorial integrity, we can establish a region stronger than the relations seen between European countries,” he stated.
President Pezeshkian also reaffirmed Iran’s commitment to resisting any external attempts to create discord between the two countries, emphasizing the importance of kinship ties and historical unity. He expressed hope for further meetings and deeper collaboration in the future, stating that in Azerbaijan, he feels “as if I am in Tabriz, Ardabil.”
Concluding his remarks, President Pezeshkian called for joint efforts to build a strong foundation for future generations across all fields, from economy to security.
The visit marked a pivotal moment in Azerbaijani-Iranian relations, setting the stage for enhanced cooperation and reaffirming the shared commitment to regional peace and prosperity.
