TEHRAN -- Iran's Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi, in a message to his Azeri counterpart Vilayat Kuliyev, congratulated him on the occasion of the country's Independence Day (day of statehood, October 18).

Iran considers itself as a real friend of the Azeri government and nation, the message read.

In his message, the Iranian foreign minister expressed the hope that bilateral cooperation between the two countries will be further promoted in the future.