Iran defense minister in Baku for talks

Iran’s Defense Minister Brigadier General Hossein Dehqan has arrived in Azerbaijan Republic’s capital, Baku, for talks with the country’s senior officials.

The Iranian defense chief arrived in Baku on Monday.

Dehqan is in Azerbaijan Republic at the invitation of his Azeri counterpart Colonel General Zakir Hasanov to discuss bilateral, regional and international issues with the country’s high-ranking authorities.

 Dehqan is scheduled to hold meetings with Azeri President Ilham Aliyev as well as Hasanov later on Monday.

Tehran and Baku enjoy deep-rooted ties and longstanding friendship. Earlier in April 2014, Iranian First Vice President Es'haq Jahangiri voiced Tehran’s readiness to further develop defense relations with the Republic of Azerbaijan.

In a meeting with Azeri defense minister in Tehran, Jahangiri said that Iran was willing to share its experience in building military equipment with Azerbaijan Republic.

The Islamic Republic attaches great significance to the expansion of ties with neighboring countries, he said, adding that Azerbaijan has a special place in Iran’s foreign policy.

Also in April last year, the Azeri president paid a day-long visit to the Iranian capital, Tehran, where he held talks with senior Iranian authorities. During the visit, Tehran and Baku signed three memoranda of understanding.