Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian has called for stronger ties with Azerbaijan, stressing that shared borders should not become an obstacle to expanding relations and urging faster development of road, air and rail links between the two neighbors.
President Pezeshkian made the remarks on Tuesday, during a meeting with Azerbaijan's Deputy Prime Minister Shahin Mustafayev, who was in Tehran for talks with Iranian officials.
The Iranian president said Azerbaijan holds a special place in Iran's neighborhood policy and described the two nations as relatives and brothers. He called for maximum use of their capacities and geographic advantages to deepen bilateral relations and strengthen people-to-people ties.
President Pezeshkian noted that the two countries' scientific, cultural, economic, political and security relations are closely interconnected, saying joint efforts were needed to further consolidate cooperation.
He emphasized that the common border should be used as an opportunity to expand interaction rather than becoming a barrier to closer relations. He also welcomed understandings reached during Mustafayev's meetings with Iran's ministers of roads and urban development and energy, calling for their rapid implementation.
The president also described transportation and communications networks as key tools for connecting the two countries and their peoples. He said land, air and rail routes should be expanded and better integrated, arguing that stronger connectivity would create greater opportunities to consolidate bilateral relations.
President Pezeshkian called for continued joint efforts to implement agreements and advance the mutual interests of both nations.
Mustafayev, for his part, briefed the Iranian president on his discussions with several ministers in Tehran and the understandings reached during those talks.
The Azerbaijani official reaffirmed Baku's determination to further develop relations with Tehran and stressed the need to follow up on and implement existing agreements and understandings.
He also highlighted the commitment of Tehran and Baku to expanding transport and communications cooperation, emphasizing the importance of strengthening transit routes and corridors and making greater use of existing capacities in this area.