Are Azerbaijan and Iran trying to improve relations that have been tense for years?

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian is set to pay a visit to Azerbaijan next week, The Times of Israel writes, referring to Iranian state media. As noted, this is one of the latest signs of warming relations between the neighboring countries.

Pezeshkian expressed hopes for “rapid and serious improvement” in relations and cooperation between the two countries as part of a broader effort to “mend ties.”

The publication notes that relations between the two countries have been strained for years, largely due to Baku’s close ties with Iran’s archenemy, Israel, and a January 2023 attack on Azerbaijan’s embassy in Tehran.

Tehran has repeatedly expressed concern that Azerbaijani territory could be used for a possible attack on Iran by Israel, a major arms supplier to Baku.

In the January 2023 attack on the Azerbaijani embassy, a gunman killed a diplomat and wounded two security guards.

Iran condemned the violence but cited “personal” grievances as the motive.

In April that year, Azerbaijan expelled four Iranian diplomats from Baku. A month later, Iran followed suit, kicking out four Azerbaijani diplomats.

Azerbaijan’s embassy resumed operations that July.

Another point of contention between the two governments has been the so-called “Zangezur corridor”, a proposed direct land link between Azerbaijan and Tehran’s historic rival, Turkey.

Tehran has vehemently opposed the project, which would run along Iran’s border with Armenia.

In a recent sign of thawing ties, Iran and Azerbaijan held two days of joint naval exercises in the Caspian Sea in November, according to Iranian media.