Iran, Azerbaijan Keen to Broaden Military Ties
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iranian Defense Minister Brigadier General Amir Hatami arrived in the Republic of Azerbaijan on Wednesday for high-profile talks on the bilateral relations and closer military cooperation between the two neighbors.
Speaking to reporters upon his arrival in Baku, General Hatami said Iran and the Republic of Azerbaijan have plans to boost their military and defense ties by taking advantage of their neighborliness.
Heading a ranking military delegation the Iranian minister has travelled to Baku at the invitation of his Azeri counterpart Zakir Hasanov.
General Hatami is also going to meet President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev during the visit.
He is expected to hold talks on regional and international developments with the Azeri authorities.
Hailing the “age-old” military and defense ties between Tehran and Baku, the Iranian minister said a joint commission on Iran-Azerbaijan military cooperation has been established during President Hassan Rouhani’s second term in office.
He added that the commission has been holding routine sessions since November 2017.
The bulk of the issues to be discussed in the official visit have been already mooted in the sessions of the joint commission on military cooperation, he explained, adding that his visit could contribute to regional security and stability and also to closer bilateral ties.
Iran and Azerbaijan have accelerated efforts in recent years to forge closer partnership in various areas.
In February 2016, Aliyev paid an official visit to Tehran, during which the two sides signed eleven memorandums of understanding and agreements to promote mutual cooperation in a range of fields.
