Iran’s decision on Azeris’ visa-free travel valid since Jan.
Iran’s decision to unilaterally cancel visa regulations for
Azerbaijani citizens will go into effect on January 1, according to
the Iranian Ambassador in Baku Mahammad Bagir Bahrami.
Bahrami told a news conference Monday that, under new rules, any
citizen of Azerbaijan is entitled to visa-free entry and stay in
his country for a period of up to one month. AIDS and hepatitis
tests will be conducted on incoming Azerbaijanis, however, this
process is to be somewhat simplifed as well, the ambassador
said.
He noted that, if this experience is successful, Tehran will extend
visa-free stay to three months, expressing hope that Azerbaijan
would also pass a decision to apply visa-free entry of
Iranians.
However, Baku may decide not to do so, as it fears a mass influx of
Iranian citizens.
According to unofficial estimates, up to 25 percent of Iran's
population of 70 million are ethnic Azeris.
Bahrami also said 35,000 people traveled to Iran from the
neighboring country over nine months of 2009.
Iran and Azerbaijan share a 700-kilometer border.*
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