Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and Azerbaijan's Special Forces have launched a joint military exercise in Iran's northwestern border region, Dana reported on November 24.

The first publicised operation between the two countries marks a significant step in military cooperation between the two neighbours. The move between the two countries may raise eyebrows in regional capitals, including Yerevan, which has historically been aligned with Tehran. 

The four-day "Joint Aras Exercise", named after the Aras River, which forms part of the border between the two countries, began in the border town of Aslanduz in Iran's Ardabil province, the IRGC's Ground Forces public relations office said in a statement.

The drills will focus on counter-terrorism operations and border security in challenging mountainous terrain along the countries' shared border, according to military officials.

"The exercise aims to strengthen bilateral relations, coordinate efforts against illegal armed groups, enhance border security, and expand military capabilities at tactical and operational levels", the IRGC statement said.

An Azerbaijani military delegation was welcomed at the Bileh Savar border crossing by IRGC commanders from Ardabil province earlier on Sunday.

Senior Azerbaijani military officials expressed their readiness to conduct joint exercises against potential border threats.

The military cooperation comes as both countries seek to enhance regional security cooperation. Further details about the exercise will be announced in the coming days, the IRGC said.

Relations have warmed between the two countries in recent months since the election of ethnic Azeri President Masoud Pezeshkian, who has given several speeches on the need to re-connect with their northern ethnic kin.

Pezeshkian is a medical doctor by training and was previously an active cardiac surgeon in Tabriz. He is of mixed Azerbaijani and Kurdish background, a common trait of the local area, and is a fluent speaker of the regional languages and Persian, the Iranian lingua franca.