News - Middle East: President Masoud Pezeshkian says the presence of foreign countries in the region will not be to the benefit of regional nations.

The Iranian president underscored the significance of observing territorial integrity of all states.

Pezeshkian made the remarks during a meeting with Shahin Mustafayev, Azerbaijan’s Deputy Prime Minister, in Tehran on Monday.

Iran believes regional countries can ensure security and bring about solutions through cooperation, Pezeshkian said.

Pointing to the historical and cultural commonalities between Iran and Azerbaijan, Pezeshkian placed a premium on the development of relations and acceleration of the implementation of agreements.

Iran welcomes all projects conducive to the expansion of relations among Muslim countries, he said.

“There is no need to build walls on the borders in order to strengthen and promote security and establish peace and communications among countries.”

Pezeshkian said Muslim countries should open their markets to each other and pave the way for cooperation among businessmen.

The president noted that Iran welcomes the establishment of railways and highways with Azerbaijan and, at the same time, wants to expand cooperation in energy and agriculture.

Mustafayev, in his turn, said Azerbaijan is keen to expand relations with Iran in the areas of economy, trade, energy, culture, transit. Baku attaches great significance to enhanced security and defense cooperation with Tehran, he said.

The Azeri official said his country is after the promotion of peace in the region and has no territorial claims against any country, while it does not accept any country’s claim regarding its territorial integrity.

Baku believes diplomacy is the key to the resolution of regional issues, he said.

Mustafayev was apparently referring to the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan in the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region.

Nagorno-Karabakh is internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan but has been populated by ethnic Armenians. In 2020, Azerbaijan made significant territorial gains in a six-week war that killed thousands on both sides, before Moscow brokered a ceasefire deal that included the deployment of 1,960 Russian peacekeepers to the region for a five-year period.

Since the truce, the two sides have accused each other of breaching the peace deal.

Press TV