Azerbaijan, Iran Deepen Transport and Economic Ties

Economic and transport cooperation between Azerbaijan and Iran is returning to an active phase. Within the framework of his visit to Tehran, Deputy Prime Minister of Azerbaijan Shahin Mustafayev held meetings with high-ranking Iranian officials, discussing a number of key projects of bilateral interest.

At the heart of the meeting between Mustafayev and the Minister of Roads and Urban Development of Iran, Mehrdad Bazrpash, were the current state of jointly implemented transport projects and the prospects for their development. The parties discussed in detail the implementation of the memorandum of understanding signed as a result of the last meeting of the state commission on cooperation between Azerbaijan and Iran in the economic, trade, and humanitarian spheres.

Special attention was paid to joint infrastructure projects of strategic importance for both countries. In particular, information was provided on the progress of the construction of the bridge over the Araz River in the Aghband direction, as well as on the expansion of the Kalaleh-Julfa road.

In addition to land routes, the parties expressed satisfaction with the launch of direct flights Baku-Tehran-Baku and Baku-Tabriz-Baku. The possibility of increasing the number of these flights was also discussed in order to promote tourism and business ties.

Within the framework of the visit, the Azerbaijani delegation also met with the Minister of Energy of Iran, Ali Akbar Mehrabian. The details of this meeting are not reported, but it is a fact that Tehran and Baku are seeking to expand cooperation not only in transport but also in the energy sector, which is of vital importance for both.

The new wave of warming is interesting in that it followed the next phase of Azerbaijan-Iran tension related to Israel's attack on Iran and related developments. By the way, unofficial but quite influential circles from Tehran accused Baku of supporting Israel, even to the point of providing it with intelligence on Iran.