Iran and Azerbaijan stress the “importance” of holding consultations on bilateral tensions

June 26 (EUROPA PRESS) –

The governments of Iran and Azerbaijan have stressed this Sunday the “importance” of maintaining bilateral consultations in the face of the rise in tensions in recent months, marked by a diplomatic rapprochement between Baku and Israel, a measure that sparked harsh criticism from Tehran.

The foreign ministers of Iran and Azerbaijan, Hosein Amirabdolahian and Jeydun Bayramov, respectively, have held a telephone conversation in which they have consulted the current situation between the two countries and the “prospects for bilateral relations”.

Amirabdolahian and Bayramov have emphasized “the importance of continuing negotiations on the issues that need to be resolved on the bilateral agenda and their resolution” and have highlighted the interest of “mutual contacts between relevant institutions and officials of the two countries in a series of areas,” reads a statement from the Azeri Foreign Ministry.

The Iranian side has indicated that the relations between the two “are such that they can resolve the issues and problems in bilateral relations and put them on the right track,” according to the IRNA news agency, which points out that Baku has appreciated Tehran’s efforts. in resolving tensions and has positively evaluated the dialogue this Sunday.

Tensions rose after an attack in January against the Azeri embassy in Iran that resulted in the death of the head of the legation’s security team. The event sparked condemnation by Azeri President Ilham Aliyev, who criticized that Iran’s security forces did not take “serious measures” to prevent it. In addition, Baku suspended its diplomatic activities in the country.

In addition, the improvement of relations between Azerbaijan and Israel has caused tensions between Baku and Tehran, which last year accused the Israeli authorities of having a military presence on Azeri territory, something denied by Azerbaijan. After that, the Iranian forces carried out exercises near the common border.

However, the Azeri authorities have always defended that their foreign policy is aimed at improving bilateral ties with other countries, regionally and globally, and they have denied that the fact that they have strengthened their relations with Israel poses a threat to Iran or that it will have a negative impact on Tehran.