Baku Signals Readiness to Help De-escalate Tensions Between Iran and the United States

WANA (Feb 06) – The President of Azerbaijan has reiterated his country’s readiness to support efforts aimed at reducing tensions between Iran and the United States, during a meeting in Baku with a high-level Iranian delegation led by Iran’s Minister of Defense—a stance that carries political weight amid heightened regional sensitivities.

On Friday, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev received a delegation from Tehran headed by Aziz Nasirzadeh, Iran’s Minister of Defense. According to a statement released by the Azerbaijani presidential office, Aliyev emphasized once again that Baku is prepared to play a constructive role, through diplomatic channels, in supporting de-escalation between Iran and the U.S.

Aliyev noted that he had previously conveyed this position during a recent phone conversation with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, during which he also shared Azerbaijan’s concerns regarding the fragile security situation in the region.

Referring to the January 21 phone call, Aliyev said that high-level contacts and meetings between the two countries, in various formats, provide important opportunities to address issues on the bilateral agenda. He also described Pezeshkian’s official visit to Azerbaijan last year as “successful,” adding that bilateral relations have expanded further since that visit.

In another part of the statement, Aliyev highlighted developments in the South Caucasus and stressed the importance of establishing lasting peace in the region—particularly for Iran, which shares borders with both Azerbaijan and Armenia. He underlined Azerbaijan’s broader position by stating: “We seek peace everywhere—without bloodshed and without war.”

During the meeting, Iran’s defense minister delivered a message from President Pezeshkian to Aliyev and said he had traveled to Baku at the president’s instruction.

The two sides reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral relations based on principles of friendship, good neighborliness, and mutual interests, and exchanged views on the prospects for expanding defense and security cooperation.