On October 16, during a meeting with Azerbaijan’s Deputy Prime Minister Shahin Mustafayev, Iran’s Oil Minister Mohsen Paknejad proposed the creation of a joint working group to enhance bilateral cooperation, particularly in the energy sector.

Paknejad emphasized the deep cultural, historical, and national ties between Iran and Azerbaijan, stating that these similarities would serve to strengthen relations between the two nations. He highlighted that neighboring countries are a priority in Iran’s foreign policy, with Azerbaijan holding a special position. Addressing the potential for economic growth, Paknejad pointed out that the oil and energy sectors are key areas for advancing bilateral economic relations. He welcomed any initiatives from Azerbaijan to expand cooperation but stressed that such collaboration would require the development of necessary infrastructure.

Paknejad appointed the Deputy Minister of Petroleum for International Affairs and Trading to lead the establishment of the Tehran-Baku joint working group and oversee its activities.

Deputy Prime Minister Mustafayev congratulated Paknejad on his recent appointment as Oil Minister and commented on the strong and longstanding relations between the two countries. "The purpose of our visit to Iran is to review the relations between the two countries and discuss the implementation of future projects," Mustafayev stated.