Will Araghchi Persuade Ilham Aliyev?

The Deputy Foreign Minister of Iran, Seyed Abbas Araghchi paid an official visit to Azerbaijan this morning. The Iranian embassy confirmed the arrival of Araghchi, without disclosing the visit’s schedule or the mission’s objectives. Azerbaijan’s Foreign Ministry also abstained from commenting on the visit.

Observers believe that Araghchi arrived to address the issue of participation of the Azerbaijani leadership at the upcoming summit of the Non-Aligned Movement in Tehran.

Despite the fact that a few days are left before the summit, Azerbaijan has not confirmed its participation. Previously, it was suggested that Ilham Aliyev will not go to Tehran if the Iranian authorities do not release two Azerbaijani writers - Farid Hussein and Shahriyar Hajizadeh arrested on trumped-up charges on May 2.

Araghchi’s visit comes at cool and even confrontational relations between the two countries, according to today's publication in Azerbaijani newspapers. Thus, many publications have published a material, which says that Iran's spiritual leader Khamenei personally authorized terrorist attacks in Baku during the Eurovision contest in May. Earlier, the special services of Azerbaijan accused Iran of preparing terrorist attacks in Baku.

There is no reason to expect that Ilham Aliyev will change his mind and go to Tehran in the current environment.

Note that Araghchi was to come to Baku on July 27, but at the last moment the visit was canceled for unknown reasons. -03B06-

Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister  comes  to Baku

In the coming days,  the Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Asia and Oceania, Seyed Abbas Araghchi will pay official visit  to Baku, according to  the press service of the Iranian Embassy in Baku.

Before,  in his interview  with the Fars agency,  he said that " the same people" live in Iran and Azerbaijan,  but efforts should be made to raise the level of the relationship.

He called natural "some differences between the two brothers, but  steps are necessary  for convergence and eliminating contradictions."

In this regard, a special mission entrusted to ministers of the two countries, said Araghchi.

He supported the review of existing errors and elimination of their consequences, creating an atmosphere of trust. -02D-