Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian visited Baku on April 28, during which Iran and Azerbaijan signed seven memoranda of understanding (MOUs) covering sectors such as political consultation, transportation, cultural exchange, health, media, and investment, the presidential website reported.

The two presidents also signed a joint statement marking the outcomes of the visit ahead of an expected visit to Baku next week by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. 

At the signing ceremony, Pezeshkian, an ethnic Azerbaijani, stated in Persian that the ties between Iran and Azerbaijan are deeply rooted, as the two nations have coexisted as neighbours and supported each other for centuries.

“Peace, security, and tranquillity can be expanded through cooperation. If Islamic countries and regional governments unite, we can enhance collaboration while respecting territorial integrity and diverse preferences,” he said.

Pezeshkian stressed the importance of economic cooperation, urging businessmen and producers from both countries to collaborate on regional transport.

 “We will not allow disruptive forces to harm the relations between our nations, as we share strong ethnic ties,” said Pezeshkian.

The President also noted that his visit had been shortened due to a deadly incident at Shahid Rajaee port in Bandar Abbas, but expressed his intent to return to Baku soon to continue fostering bilateral relations. He concluded by stating, “Being in this country feels like being in Tabriz or any other city in Iran.”

Pezeshkian arrived at Heydar Aliyev International Airport in the morning of April 28 and was received by Azerbaijan’s Deputy Prime Minister Yagub Eyyubov and Deputy Foreign Minister Samir Sharifov. Later in the afternoon, he was officially welcomed by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev.

During the meeting between delegations from both countries, Pezeshkian expressed his optimism about fostering deeper relations.

“I hope this visit and the agreements signed will pave the way for stronger collaboration between our nations, forming a model of regional partnerships,” he said.

Pezeshkian also emphasised the importance of respecting Azerbaijani rights, reiterating that Nagorno-Karabakh is an integral part of Azerbaijan’s territory.

The Nagorno-Karabakh region, which is internationally recognised as part of Azerbaijan but has a majority ethnic Armenian population, has caused a long-standing territorial and ethnic dispute between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

Ilham Aliyev reciprocated the same sentiment, describing the visit as pivotal.

"In this meeting, we discussed numerous topics and underscored the importance of advancing relations that certainly benefit both countries," Aliyev said. He added, "The North-South Corridor is very important for the countries involved in this project."

Diplomatic relations between Tehran and Baku faced strain in 2023 following a gunman’s attack on Azerbaijan’s embassy in Tehran, which resulted in the death of a security guard and the subsequent embassy closure.  After 18 months, Azerbaijan reopened the embassy at a new location, signalling progress in rebuilding ties.

Regarding the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Iran has sided with Azerbaijan, recognising the region as part of its territorial integrity in alignment with United Nations resolutions. At the same time, Tehran has sought to adopt a balanced approach by advocating for ethnic Armenians’ rights.