Iran’s Top Commander: Unity Among Regional States Guarantees Peace

Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces Major General Mohammad Baqeri underlined that only unity among neighbors guarantees peace and security at common borders.

General Baqeri made remarks in a telephone conversation with Azerbaijan’s Defense Minister Zakir Hasanov.

General Baqeri emphasized that unity among neighboring countries is essential for peace to prevail in the region.

“Security and peace along common borders is only possible through rapport and unity between neighboring states. The presence of foreigners in the region will cause tensions and rifts,” he said.

The top general also stressed the development of bilateral defense and military relations.

Referring to invaluable agreements reached between the Iranian and Azeri Armed Forces in the past years, General Baqeri cited progress in the level of cooperation, communication, and interaction between the two sides in all fields

“We believe that the Armed Forces can become a factor in strengthening friendship and brotherhood between the two countries,” he said.

General Baqeri further expressed the readiness of the Iranian Armed Forces to participate in a joint military commission in Baku.

Hasanov, for his part, said that the Azeri Armed Forces are fully ready to improve bilateral military and defense ties.

He pointed out that Azerbaijan always considers the Islamic Republic a friendly country and welcomes military cooperation in all areas.

General Hasanov also invited General Baqeri to visit Azerbaijan, and expressed the hope that his country will play a good host to an Iranian delegation in the joint military commission in Baku in the near future.

Tehran-Baku relations became strained in January when the Eurasian country’s Embassy in the Iranian capital of Tehran came under an attack.

Officials from the two neighboring countries have recently held talks in a bid to resolve misunderstandings.