Iran optimistic of Caspian future

A delegation led by Iran's deputy foreign minister Ali Ahani was received by Foreign Minister Vilayat Guliyev Tuesday, the Ministry said in a statement. During the meeting, the Azeri minister expressed a hope that the visit would lead to the warming in bilateral relations and narrow the parties' differences on the Caspian status.

Saying that Azerbaijan stands for speeding up the legal status issue and eliminating the existing differences through a political dialogue, the minister voiced a hope for consensus on core issues.

Mr. Ahani said, in turn, that he hopes for the expansion of contacts and further cooperation between the two countries. He then added that he was confident that the two countries could resolve their differences.

V. Guliyev and A. Ahani also discussed issues relating to the newly-established Iranian-Azeri economic commission and the official visit of President Aliyev to Iran in September.

Also on Tuesday, Mr. Ahani was received by President Aliyev and SOCAR president N. Aliyev.