The Islamic Republic of Iran is ready to develop and facilitate its relations with Nakhchivan in various fields, including agriculture, railway, road construction and infrastructure projects, energy and customs service, Zarif said during a Sunday meeting with Chairman of the Supreme Assembly of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic Vasif Talibov in Tehran.

Talibov, for his part, expressed satisfaction at the growing bilateral interaction between Iran and Azerbaijan, particularly Nakhchivan, in diverse areas, saying, “We are ready to increase our cooperation with Iran in the fields of energy, tourism and transportation.”

In late December 2016, Iran launched a direct passenger train service between its northeastern city of Mashhad and Azerbaijan’s Nakhchivan.

The train from Nakhchivan travels to Iran’s northwestern city of Tabriz through Jolfa and thereon to Tehran and finally Mashhad.