On May 18, Hikmet Hajiyev, the Assistant to the President of Azerbaijan and the Head of the Foreign Policy Affairs Department of the Presidential Administration, attended the 4th Tehran Dialogue Forum in Iran, where he stated that Azerbaijani-Iranian relations had entered a new phase and emphasized progress in regional peace initiatives, while Armenian Security Council Secretary Armen Grigoryan held meetings with Iranian officials to discuss bilateral ties and regional security.
During the 4th Tehran Dialogue Forum and the interview afterwards, Hajiyev announced, “I believe that relations between Azerbaijan and Iran have entered a new stage of development,” crediting the progress to Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian’s official visit to Baku and subsequent high-level talks between the Azerbaijani and Iranian leadership. Hajiyev stressed that both sides were now tasked with advancing these relations further.
Hajiyev confirmed that steps toward the normalization of relations between Baku and Yerevan were ongoing. He emphasized that the liberation of territories and the full restoration of Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity created favorable conditions for peace in the South Caucasus, stating, “A new status quo, a new reality has emerged… based on the norms and principles of international law and legitimacy.” Hajiyev described the five principles proposed by Azerbaijan as the foundation for a peace treaty with Armenia, noting that the draft text had already been presented to the Armenian side. He announced that the work on finalizing the peace treaty’s text had been completed, though some unresolved bilateral issues remained. Hajiyev reiterated Azerbaijan’s position that Armenia must constitutionally renounce all territorial claims against Baku to achieve lasting peace, while noting with satisfaction that de facto peace and stability now reigned in the region.
On May 17, Armen Grigoryan, the Secretary of the Armenian Security Council, met in Tehran with Abbas Araghchi, the Iranian Foreign Minister. Although no official Armenian statement was released, Armenian political analyst Sahak Shahmuradyan reported on Facebook that the two sides discussed bilateral relations, regional affairs, and international issues. During the meeting, Grigoryan presented the latest developments regarding Armenia-Azerbaijan relations and highlighted the Armenian government’s peace efforts. Both sides underscored the importance of signing a peace treaty and ensuring regional security.
In their meeting, Abbas Araghchi reiterated Iran’s unwavering support for Armenia’s territorial integrity and sovereignty, adding that Tehran placed significant value on its relations with Yerevan. Araghchi also briefed Grigoryan on Iran’s consistent position concerning its right to peaceful nuclear energy. Grigoryan, in turn, described Armenian-Iranian relations as “very good and positive” and affirmed his government’s commitment to expanding ties, particularly in economic and trade sectors. He further highlighted the importance of concluding a Free Trade Agreement between Iran and EU member states.
On May 18, the 4th Tehran Dialogue Forum convened with the participation of numerous foreign ministers and senior officials from various countries, focusing on regional security and diplomatic cooperation.