President Hassan Rouhani expressed confidence that Tehran and Baku would continue to strengthen relations in light of their common bonds and the political will of officials. In a message to his Azeri counterpart Ilham Aliyev on Monday, Rouhani congratulated the Azeri people and government on their republic day, which marks the anniversary of founding of the Democratic Republic of Azerbaijan in 1918, Tasnim News Agency reported. The president expressed confidence that the growing relations between the two neighbors will be strengthened thanks to the political will and efforts of senior officials. Iran and Azerbaijan have accelerated efforts in recent years to forge closer partnership in key areas. Aliyev has paid several visits to Tehran over the past few years. In 2016 the two sides signed eleven memorandums of understanding and agreements to promote collaboration in diverse fields.
