Aliyev: Azerbaijani territory not to be used for anti-Tehran threats
‘Azerbaijan ready to help ease Iran-US tensions’
Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev said his country will not allow its territory to be used for any threat against Iran, amid US threats of military aggression against the Islamic Republic.
Aliyev made the remarks on Friday during a meeting in Baku with Iran’s Defense Minister, Brigadier General Aziz Nasirzadeh, where the two sides discussed regional security developments.
Aliyev stressed that within the framework of friendly and brotherly ties between the two countries, Azerbaijan would not permit any action from its soil that could pose a threat to Iran.
He also underlined the importance of relations between the two neighboring states, noting their shared historical, cultural and religious ties.
Aliyev said Azerbaijan has consistently regarded Iran’s stability and security as significant for the broader region.
The Azerbaijani president also on Friday reaffirmed his country’s readiness to help de-escalate tensions between Iran and the United States, which have deteriorated in recent months over a range of issues including Iran’s nuclear program.
The Azerbaijani president said during his recent phone call with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on January 21 he had expressed concern about the situation in the region and had offered help, according to a statement by Azerbaijan’s presidential office.
Aliyev said on Friday that while conflicts continue in many parts of the world, peace has already been established in the South Caucasus – an issue that he said is of great importance for Iran, which borders both Azerbaijan and Armenia.
“We want peace throughout the world, no bloodshed, no wars,” Aliyev was quoted as saying, stressing that Azerbaijan exemplifies a successful transition from war to peace.
Highlighting the positive results of a last year visit by the Iranian president to Azerbaijan, Aliyev stated that “relations have developed further since that visit,” the statement said.
“During the conversation, they noted the development of bilateral relations based on principles of friendship, brotherhood, and good-neighborliness between the two countries, and exchanged views on prospects for defense cooperation,” the statement added.
Nasirzadeh delivered a message from Pezeshkian to Aliyev and said he had travelled to Baku at the Iranian president’s instruction.