Calling for expansion of all-out ties with Azerbaijan, Iran's First Vice President Es'hagh Jahangiri underlined on Wednesday that the security of the two neighbors "is tied together," IRNA reported.
"Cultural, religious and historic commonalities shared between the two nations can provide the ground for further expansion of mutual relationship," Jahangiri said in a meeting with Azerbaijan's visiting Deputy Prime Minister Ali Hasanov in Tehran.
Iran has been trying to build stronger relations with its neighbors including the Republic of Azerbaijan. President Hassan Rouhani made a two-day visit to the country in mid November in an attempt to further figure out possible avenues of trade and investment there. The Rouhani administration plan to increase regional economic ties is seen as a means of watering down the impact of sanctions imposed on the country by the European Union and the United States in recent years over Tehran's nuclear energy program. In late October, President Rouhani said that his administration has plans to build new relations with both regional and international countries, which could be performed even under sanctions.
"The achievements gained during Rouhani's visit have to be preserved, since there are countries which tend to disrupt the friendly relationship between the two countries," Jahangiri said, referring to a number of agreements sealed during the president's visit to Baku.
Hasanov, in his turn said, "There are countries which try to drive a wedge between our relations, but hopefully to no avail."
