Iran’s political hardliners have entered a familiar cycle once again: whenever diplomacy between Baku and Tehran gains momentum, anti-Azerbaijan narratives suddenly intensify in Iran’s media and political circles, which is a definite thing that occurs every now and then. The louder the anti-Azerbaijan rhetoric becomes, the clearer it is that some forces in Tehran are struggling to accept the new geopolitical landscape. Instead of adapting to reality, these circles have chosen to revive old narratives and invent new crises at a time when regional cooperation is actually moving forward.

The visit of Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Vahid Jalalzadeh to Baku has once again highlighted the contrasting paths of official diplomacy and the increasingly hostile rhetoric adopted by certain political circles inside Iran. While Jalalzadeh’s meetings with Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov focused on cooperation in political, economic, trade, transportation and energy security spheres, anti-Azerbaijani voices in Iran intensified their propaganda on the eve of the visit. This duality reflects a pattern that has become familiar in recent years, particularly after Azerbaijan’s victory in the Patriotic War.

According to the information released after the meeting, both sides reiterated the importance of Azerbaijani-Iranian cooperation and discussed a number of transport and communication projects that play a significant role in regional connectivity. The development of corridors passing through the South Caucasus remains an important factor for both countries, and the discussions in Baku were aimed at strengthening these shared interests.

Yet even as the diplomats were focusing on regional stability, anti-Azerbaijan circles in Iran were attempting to undermine the atmosphere of........

© AzerNews