High-level discussions between officials from Tehran and Baku have brought the restoration of passenger transportation across the land borders between the two countries back to the agenda.
Operative Information Center-OMM reports that Iran's Minister of Cultural Heritage, Tourism, and Handicrafts, Reza Salehi Amiri, made the announcement during a meeting with members of parliament from Ardabil Province.
Sharing details of his recent visit to Azerbaijan as part of President Masoud Pezeshkian's delegation, Reza Salehi Amiri emphasized that President Ilham Aliyev provided optimistic assurances regarding the resumption of border gate operations. According to the minister, while official Baku previously cited security considerations for keeping the borders closed, those obstacles have now been addressed and existing concerns have been resolved.
Salehi Amiri noted that the intensification of cross-border relations will not only revitalize export potential and the local economy but also create significant opportunities for promoting tourist destinations in the border regions. The reopening is expected to facilitate easier movement for citizens and strengthen bilateral ties in the tourism and trade sectors.
The land borders of Azerbaijan have remained closed for passenger traffic since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020, as part of the country's special quarantine regime. While air travel and international cargo transportation have continued, the restoration of land crossings is seen as a vital step for regional integration and the recovery of the tourism industry between Azerbaijan and its neighbors. This potential reopening follows a period of active diplomatic engagement aimed at normalizing and enhancing economic cooperation in the South Caucasus region.
