TEHRAN – U.S. Deputy Special Envoy for Iran Abram Paley paid a surprise visit to the Republic of Azerbaijan, holding meeting with several officials ahead of an anticipated restoration of Tehran-Baku diplomatic relations. 

Paley’s visit to the capital Baku was part of a regional tour that included Georgia and Armenia as well. “Constructive trip to the South Caucasus, where I met with senior officials and the private sector to discuss the Iranian regime, sanctions enforcement, and ongoing efforts to address the regime’s destabilizing behavior.  The U.S. aims to work with our partners to advance a positive vision for the region,” Paley said on X.

In Baku, the U.S. of official met with Hikmet Hajiyev, an assistant to the Azerbaijani president, Deputy Foreign Minister Samir Sharifov, Azerbaijani Ambassador to Iran Ali Alizada, and Israeli Ambassador to Azerbaijan George Deek. 

The visit to Azerbaijan by the U.S. deputy envoy for Iran comes at a time when Tehran and Baku are nearing an agreement on restoring diplomatic relations, which were severed in early 2023 following an attack on the Azerbaijani embassy in Tehran.