Member of Parliament Jeyhun Mammadov stated that although he was one of the strongest critics of Iran previously, what he saw during his visit to Ardabil changed some of his perceptions about the country.
The deputy paid an official visit to the Islamic Republic of Iran on July 25-26. Within the framework of the visit, he participated in events organized in Ardabil city on the occasion of "Sheikh Safi al-Din Ardabili Commemoration Day" and "Ardabil Week", as well as in a number of official meetings.
Speaking to Modern.az, Jeyhun Mammadov stated that before the visit, many people were wondering how safe it would be to go to Iran in a state of war:
"The war was not openly felt in Ardabil. Life continued as usual. People were working, the city was lively. The atmosphere of war was not felt much. Of course, people had some concerns, but this did not affect daily life. Serious security measures or police control were not noticeable in the city either."
According to the deputy, one of the most impressive aspects of the visit was the attitude of compatriots living in Ardabil towards Azerbaijan:
"What attracted our attention most was the love and affection of our compatriots there for us. Whoever learned that we came from Azerbaijan welcomed us with great love and respect. This created a very pleasant impression on us."
Jeyhun Mammadov noted that he has been one of the critics of Iranian politics for years and there are objective reasons for this:
"I have been one of the strongest critics of Iran's attitude towards Azerbaijan from time to time. There were serious grounds for this. Various steps have been taken by Iran against our country, and Azerbaijan has responded adequately."
At the same time, the deputy believes that the development of interstate relations is in the interests of both countries:
"Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has a firm and principled position. Azerbaijan is interested in developing relations with Iran. I believe that no matter what, we must maintain our ties with our compatriots there and develop relations with Iran. Iran is our neighbor and an important country for us."
According to him, there are wide opportunities for cooperation between the two countries in economic, political and humanitarian fields:
"We share a common history, culture and values. It is important to protect these values. What I see is that the reality within Iran differs somewhat from the picture presented to us from outside. Some issues are presented without being based on facts."
The deputy emphasized that the increase in tension in the region harms Azerbaijanis living on both sides:
"Our compatriots live on one side, and our compatriots live on the other side. Both sides suffer from every conflict that occurs. Therefore, we must all work to maintain peace and dialogue."
