Top official: Azerbaijan interested in developing relations with Iran based on mutual respect and trust

"We have read the statement of Ali Akbar Velayati, adviser to the Supreme Leader of Iran, to the Iranian media," Assistant to the President of Azerbaijan, and Head of the Foreign Policy Affairs Department of the Presidential Administration Hikmet Hajiyev said.

Hajiyev stated the Azerbaijani side commends and appreciates the opinion of Ali Akbar Velayati that our peoples share a common history, religious, cultural heritage, and traditions, as well as views on the Azerbaijani-Iranian ties, Caliber.Az reports.

"We regret to note that the number of recent statements by some officials, members of parliament, and representatives of security agencies of the Islamic Republic of Iran has caused increased tension between the two countries. The Republic of Azerbaijan is not the initiator of this tension. In particular, I would like to mention that the two military exercises the Iranian Armed Forces conducted near the Azerbaijani borders have not helped confidence-building between the two countries, but on the contrary, they had an adverse effect. The Republic of Azerbaijan has always been interested in developing relations with the Islamic Republic of Iran on the basis of mutual respect and trust, and it is still the case today," the Assistant to the President of Azerbaijan said.

Advisor to the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran Ali Akbar Velayati made a press statement in which he commented on the rumors that Iran is going to start a war against Azerbaijan.

According to Velayati, this information is a vicious libel against the Iranian authorities. "Iran neither in the Caucasus nor in other regions intends to attack any country. Iran does not intend to attack its neighbours, who share the same origin, language, religion, traditions, and history. That is, the people of the Republic of Azerbaijan are the light of our eyes," he said.

Velayati said that today Iran wants nothing from the neighboring nations except their welfare and has no territorial claims against the region's countries. "If Azerbaijan is subjected to aggression by any country, Iran will rush to its aid," he said.

The Iranian official said, "although there is a division between Iran and the Azerbaijanis in northern Araz for whatever reason, we are not trying to remove the borders and take any place."

"The people of Azerbaijan rule their country and such inappropriate words and accusations are baseless. Let them know (the enemies of Iran and Azerbaijan) that their efforts in this regard will be in vain. Today Iran has such power that its enemies, including America and Zionism, reckon with it. Still, our power is not against our friends, but against our enemies, the enemies of Azerbaijan and the enemies of neighboring countries," Velayati stressed.