Iran, Azerbaijan Stress Expansion of Defense Ties

Iranian and Azeri defense ministers in separate messages underlined the need for the expansion of mutual military cooperation.
In a message to Brigadier General Hossein Dehqan to congratulate him on his appointment as Iran’s new defense minister, Azeri Defense Minister Safar Abiyev called for the enhancement of military and defense cooperation between Baku and Tehran.

In response, the Iranian defense minister thank his Azeri counterpart for his message, and called for strengthening defensive cooperation between Iran and Azerbaijan.

Brigadier General Dehqan’s message was delivered to his Azeri counterpart by Iranian Ambassador to Baku Mohsen Pakayeen on Wednesday.

In mid-March, during a meeting with visiting Azerbaijani defense minister, former Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad called for the enhancement of Tehran-Baku relations.

Abiyev, for his part, said the warm relations between Iran and Azerbaijan cannot be disrupted, and expressed hope Tehran-Baku cooperation would further expand.

Iran has recently enhanced efforts to boost political, economic, security and cultural ties and cooperation with the regional and neighboring countries, specially the Central Asian states.

Abiyev is due to visit Iran in the near future.