TEHRAN – Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi provided an update on the latest diplomatic efforts to reopen the passenger border between Iran and the Republic of Azerbaijan.
“During the past year, the issue of the continued closure of this passenger border has been raised in every meeting between the presidents of the two countries, as well as with the Azerbaijani foreign minister and in all exchanges and visits between officials of the two countries,” Araghchi told reporters on Thursday after a two-day visit to East Azerbaijan.
He noted that the Azerbaijani side insists that all borders remain closed, and the situation is not unique to Iran. “The Republic of Azerbaijan has promised to review and reconsider this issue, and we are still waiting for the results,” the foreign minister said.
Araghchi stressed that the reopening of borders is one of the main issues in relations between Iran and the Republic of Azerbaijan.
The diplomat also announced that the third regional diplomatic conference will be held in Tabriz, with the participation of ministers and ambassadors involved in regional issues.
Araghushi arrived in Tabriz on Wednesday evening to attend the National Conference on “Azerbaijan, Foreign Affairs, and Territorial Integrity of Iran” held in honor of Mohebari Khan Nazem Almolk Maraghi, and also attended and gave a speech at the 27th Festival of School Constructors in East Azerbaijan Oblast.
During his visit, Araghchi met with Friday prayer leaders in Tabriz, visited local industrial facilities, and participated in meetings with provincial economic officials.
In January 2023, the Azerbaijani embassy in Tehran was attacked, causing Baku to temporarily close its diplomatic mission and evacuate its staff. The Azerbaijani government characterized the incident as a “terrorist act,” but a subsequent investigation by Iranian authorities revealed personal and familial motives behind the attack. The perpetrator told police he believed the embassy was harboring his wife. He launched the attack while the children waited in a car parked near the building. Iran later executed those responsible for the attack, leaving one person dead.
Although the Iranian government has been adamant about strengthening ties with Baku, Iranian public sentiment toward Azerbaijan is generally negative, particularly during and after the recent Iran-Israel war, when much attention was focused on Azerbaijan’s potential role in Israel’s hostilities against Iran.
Residents of the northern provinces of Gilan and Mazandaran, along the Caspian Sea, reported hearing sounds that sounded like drones or fighter jets during the Israeli attack.
These two states are located near Azerbaijan and also border the Caspian Sea. Some residents of Ardabil province, which shares a land border with the Republic of Azerbaijan, also reported seeing drones flying from behind the mountains that separate the two countries.
All of these reports have so far come from civilians, but Iranian military or political officials have yet to officially confirm the claims.
Iran reiterated its readiness to expand and strengthen relations with the Republic of Azerbaijan in all areas of mutual benefit.