LONDON, United Kingdom - Iranian President Massoud Pezeshkian has called for deeper regional cooperation and mutual understanding during his first official visit to Azerbaijan on Monday, which signaled a potential thaw in relations between the two neighbors.

During a joint press conference with his Azerbaijani counterpart Ilham Aliyev in Baku, the Iranian president underscored the importance of strengthening ties based on shared religious, cultural, and historical bonds.

Pezeshkian's visit occurred against the backdrop of a tumultuous past in Iran-Azerbaijan ties, strained by Baku's growing alliance with Israel, and a 2023 attack on the Azerbaijani embassy in Tehran.

The Iranian president declared in the presser that Tehran and Baku can reap benefits from mutual respect for territorial integrity and enhanced trade and transport links.

“Together, we can build peace and security in the region,” he stated, noting the shared potential for economic growth through joint initiatives in transport and trade.

The visit was Pezeshkian's first to Baku since taking office in July 2024. His predecessor, Ebrahim Raisi also met with the Azerbaijani president last May. It was upon return from that trip that Raisi lost his life after the helicopter carrying him and part of his accompanying delegation crashed in a north-western mountainous terrain on the Iranian side of the border area.

'Karabakh, inseparable Azerbaijani territory'

Despite setbacks in Baku-Tehran ties, Pezeshkian emphasized that the strong cultural ties between the two nations formed a solid foundation for a new path.

His visit comes as the two sides are seeking to navigate the complex political landscape of the region, balancing traditional alliances and new geopolitical realities.

During the visit, Pezeshkian reaffirmed Iran’s longstanding position on the Karabakh region, recognizing the territory as “an inseparable part of Azerbaijan,” as he voiced Tehran's support for Azerbaijan's territorial integrity.

He also highlighted the strategic importance of connectivity between Iran, Azerbaijan, and Russia, citing opportunities for infrastructure development, including the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC), a regional mega project that aims to link India to Europe.

During the visit, the two sides signed seven joint cooperation agreements, covering various sectors including trade, science, and energy, according to Iran's state media.

Iranian outlets largely viewed Pezeshkian's visit as a symbol of solidarity, hailing the two presidents' commitment for deepened ties as a key step toward regional collaboration in the ongoing challenges facing the Middle East and the South Caucasus.