President Ilham Aliyev stated that Azerbaijan will continue to collaborate with Iran to implement the agreements reached with the late Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi during their last meeting.
In a phone conversation with Mohammad Mokhber, the acting President and First Vice President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, President Ilham Aliyev stated that “Azerbaijan remains fully committed to the agreements reached and will continue to work with Iran on their implementation.”
Ebrahim Raisi passed away following a helicopter accident amidst foggy, mountainous terrain in Iran’s northwest. The incident occurred on May 19 as Raisi was traveling to Tabriz City after overseeing the inauguration of the Qiz Qalasi and Khudafarin hydroelectric complexes on the Araz River at the border between Azerbaijan and Iran. During this visit, he had engaged in discussions with his Azerbaijani counterpart.
During the call on June 5, Ilham Aliyev and Mohammad Mokhber, who has been appointed acting president after the death of Ebrahim Raisi, emphasized the historical friendship and neighborly relations between the two countries, as well as the brotherly ties between their peoples.
They also referred to the last meeting between Ilham Aliyev and Ebrahim Raisi at the border, emphasizing the significance of the discussions and agreements made during that time. These agreements addressed many important issues, clarified the future direction of bilateral relations, and demonstrated the strong political will of both countries. During their meeting, Aliyev and Raisi also discussed joint efforts to develop the North-South international transport corridor, where cargo transportation increased by more than 50% in 2023. They also talked about the construction of the Kalaleh-Aghband road and bridge at the Iran-Azerbaijan border, which is expected to be completed by the end of 2025.
During the conversation with Acting President Mokhber, President Aliyev reiterated his condolences to the government and people of Iran following the tragic helicopter crash that resulted in the loss of President Raisi, Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, and other officials.
In turn, Mohammad Mokhber assured that Iran would implement the agreements reached during the last meeting between presidents Aliyev and Raisi, in line with the interests of both countries.
The phone conversation also included discussions on ongoing efforts to create a road transport route connecting Azerbaijan’s Zangilan district with Nakhchivan through Iran.
The Iranian Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Khamenei, named First Vice-President Mohammad Mokhber as the acting president of the country. Subsequently, Mokhber appointed Ali Baqeri Kani, Deputy Foreign Minister for Political Affairs, as the interim foreign minister, replacing Amir-Abdollahian. Snap presidential elections are slated for June 28, with candidate registration open from May 30 to June 3, and the campaigning period set from June 12 to June 27.
President Aliyev visited the Iranian embassy in Baku on May 21 to express condolences for the loss of Iranian officials.
During the visit, he expressed optimism about the fulfillment of important agreements made during his recent meeting with Raisi, emphasizing the significance of their discussions. He also reaffirmed their shared commitment to advancing Iran-Azerbaijan relations and highlighted the importance of inaugurating two dams along the Iran-Azerbaijan border, underscoring the strength of their bilateral ties. During his visit, President Aliyev emphasized that this event sent a clear message to both nations and the world, demonstrating their enduring friendship and solidarity.
The Khudafarin and Qiz Qalasi hydroelectric complexes, situated on the Araz River at the border between Azerbaijan and Iran, serve the dual purpose of electricity generation and irrigation. Presently, the Khudafarin water reservoir contains 503 million cubic meters of water, representing 40% of its total capacity, while the Qiz Qalasi reservoir holds 42 million cubic meters, constituting 85% of its total capacity.