Iran’s DM: Iran Ready to Supply Azerbaijan’s Defense Needs

Iranian Defense Minister Brigadier General Hossein Dehqan announced Tehran’s readiness to supply Baku with its needed military equipment and trainings.
“The principled policy of the 11th government, specially President Rouhani, is based on the development of mutual cooperation with the neighboring countries and the Republic of Azerbaijan has an important position in the Islamic Republic of Iran’s foreign policy,” Dehqan said in a meeting with his Azeri counterpart Zakir Hasanov in Tehran on Monday.

He stressed Iran’s preparedness to supply Baku with its military needs, and expressed the hope that Hasanov’s visit would pave the ground for the further promotion of defense and military relations between the two countries.

Hasanov, for his part, referred to Iran and Azerbaijan’s cultural, historical, political and religious commonalities, and said, “Iran is a great regional country and Azerbaijan’s friend and neighbor and cooperation with Tehran is a top priority in our country’s foreign policy.”

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

On Wednesday, Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei in a meeting with Azeri President Ilham Aliyev called for the further consolidation of relations between Tehran and Baku, and warned of enemies’ plots to sow discord between them.

During the meeting in Tehran, Ayatollah Khamenei describes the two countries’ neighborhood and religious, cultural and historical ties as effective factors at the service of further strengthening of bilateral relations, and said, “The relations between the two nations and the two governments should become stronger with the passage of each new day.”

He said that strengthening of the governments’ relations with their nations and their religious beliefs guarantees their success.

Ayatollah Khamenei warned that there are some tendencies that are after promotion of religious extremism and sowing the seeds of discord among the followers of different Islamic schools of thought. “Such tendencies should not be permitted to achieve their objectives, including disturbing countriesˈ national unity.”

“The current level of the two countriesˈ transactions is very low keeping in mind the two sidesˈ capacities and broad potentials and I hope this visit would serve as a prelude for a broad economic and regional cooperation,” he reiterated.

Ayatollah Khamenei said that some, including the Zionist regime, are not pleased with the strengthening of relations between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Republic of Azerbaijan and keep disrupting its process, but relying on serious and resolute political will such intrigues will defeat.

President Aliyev, for his part, underlined that the atmosphere of the bilateral negotiations is very constructive, and added, “The joint Iran-Azerbaijan commission began its activities right today and this visit will serve as a platform for the improvement of comprehensive relation, including in industrial, commercial, transportation, and tourism fields.”

He said that religious extremism and the need to counter it is among the shared serious concerns of both countries.

President Aliyev also referred to the historical and cultural relations between the two countries, stressing Baku’s strong and resolute will for the expansion of comprehensive relations with Tehran.