Commander of the Azerbaijani Naval Forces Rear Admiral Subhan Bakirov (2nd L), meets with Operations Commander of the Iranian Navy Captain Mohammad-Reza Khazaei in Baku, Azerbaijan, on October 4, 2023. (Photo by Azerbaijani Press Agency)

The Azerbaijani Defense Ministry says military officials from the South Caucasus country and neighboring Iran have reached an agreement on holding a joint naval exercise in the Caspian Sea.

According to the state-run Azerbaijani Press Agency (APA), Commander of the Azerbaijani Naval Forces Rear Admiral Subhan Bakirov met and held talks with an Iranian delegation led by Operations Commander of the Iranian Navy Captain Mohammad-Reza Khazaei in Baku on Wednesday.

The Iranian delegates were also briefed on the ongoing Khazri-2023 Joint Tactical Exercises, which involve warships and military personnel from Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan.

The two sides underlined the importance of joint exercises in the Caspian Sea in the future with the participation of Azerbaijani and Iranian naval forces, and a preliminary agreement was reached in this regard.

They also discussed the prospects for expansion of military cooperation between naval forces of the two countries.

Khazri-2023 Joint Tactical Exercises are currently underway in the Caspian Sea and will continue until October 8. The Iranian naval delegation has taken part as an observer in the exercises.