After years of tension, Aliev and Pezeshkian seek diplomatic reset

In a rare diplomatic move, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliev and Iranian President Massoud Pezeshkian held talks in Baku on Monday, signaling a potential thaw after years of strained relations between their two neighboring countries.

According to an official statement, the meeting began in a restricted format, with images released by Aliev’s office showing the two leaders smiling warmly as they shook hands beside their national flags — a powerful symbol of renewed dialogue.

This high-level meeting comes just days after a deadly explosion at Iran’s Shahid port, which killed at least 46 people. In a gesture of solidarity, President Aliev expressed his "deep sorrow" over the tragedy, setting a conciliatory tone ahead of the talks.

The timing of the meeting also coincides with ongoing indirect negotiations between Washington and Tehran over Iran’s nuclear program, with Oman mediating behind the scenes.

Azerbaijan, a former Soviet republic with strong cultural and political ties to Turkey, has long had a complicated relationship with Iran, which hosts a large ethnic Azeri population.

Relations soured dramatically in early 2023 following an armed attack on Azerbaijan’s embassy in Tehran, which resulted in the death of a diplomat and injuries to two guards. The fallout triggered a diplomatic standoff, with both nations expelling each other's diplomats over subsequent months.

Adding to the strain, Azerbaijan’s close ties with Israel — Iran's arch-rival and a major supplier of defense equipment to Baku — have fueled Tehran’s suspicions. Iran fears that Israeli intelligence or military forces could use Azerbaijani territory as a platform for operations against Iran.

Another source of friction is the proposed Zangezur Corridor project. Baku seeks to establish a direct territorial link to its Nakhchivan exclave via southern Armenia — a move Tehran strongly opposes. Iran views any alteration of regional borders as a direct threat to its access to Armenia and, by extension, Europe.

Nevertheless, there have been signs of cautious rapprochement. In December 2024, Iran and Azerbaijan conducted joint naval drills in the Caspian Sea, hinting at a willingness to rebuild trust.

New Prospects Ahead

As Presidents Aliev and Pezeshkian engage in dialogue, regional analysts note that both nations have significant reasons to stabilize relations: economic collaboration, security coordination, and managing broader geopolitical shifts, especially amid renewed international focus on Iran’s nuclear ambitions.

While deep-seated mistrust remains, Monday’s meeting in Baku could mark the beginning of a gradual recalibration of ties between two pivotal players at the crossroads of the Middle East and the Caucasus.