We Will Not Allow External Factors to Affect Our Relations: Iran's President to Aliyev

"The ISIS and Zionist terrorism are two factors threatening the region that need to be countered," stated Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi during a meeting with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev at the Economic Cooperation Organization summit in Ashgabat.

According to the Iranian President's press service, the two leaders discussed important regional issues and bilateral relations during their meeting. Raisi emphasized that the two countries share "ancient and deep relations, and we will not allow enemies to impact those relations."

Recalling Iran's support for "Azerbaijan's independence and territorial integrity," the Iranian President remarked, "We will not tolerate the absence of security and foreign interference in the affairs of regional countries. Experience shows that regional countries can solve their issues through understanding and negotiations. Aggressions and foreign intervention must cease. ISIS and the Zionist regime are two threatening factors in the region that need to be resisted."

Highlighting that the U.S. and Israel "wish to undermine" the relations between Iran and Azerbaijan, Raisi stressed, "Foreign interference harms the countries of the region, and we must remain vigilant against their conspiracies."

He welcomed the Azerbaijani President’s announcement regarding strengthening economic relations between the two countries and developing transit routes with the participation of Iranian companies.

Aliyev stated that a special working group will be formed to implement and monitor the agreements reached. Speaking about negotiations with official representatives of both countries to resolve certain disagreements, Aliyev assured that Azerbaijan is "committed to ensuring the security of border areas and will not allow any country to obstruct bilateral relations."

"We are determined to solve the transit issues and lay the groundwork for the activities and presence of Iranian companies in Azerbaijan," he declared, adding that the meeting will mark a "turning point" in the relations between the two countries and that they are inclined to secure the interests of the Islamic Republic of Iran in the region.