President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan recently responded to an expression of gratitude from Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian, following Azerbaijani support provided to Iran. The message, conveyed via social media, was explicit: “Our friendly and brotherly peoples have supported each other for centuries, and we will continue to stand by each other in both good and difficult times.” This is more than diplomatic courtesy; it is a statement of strategic intent, clarifying a foundational relationship in a region often characterized by shifting allegiances.
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