Background
Tahirova was born on November 7, 1913 in Bayram-Ali (presently in Turkmenistan).
Tahirova was born on November 7, 1913 in Bayram-Ali (presently in Turkmenistan).
Having graduated from the Azerbaijan State Oil Academy (then the Azerbaijan Industry Institute) in 1935, she became the first Azerbaijani female professional obtaining a degree of higher education related to oil industry.
In 1940, she was appointed director of Azerbaijan Scientific Research Institute. From 1942 on, she worked at the Central Committee of Azerbaijan Communist Party and was in charge of delivering timely oil supplies to Soviet Army fighting the enemy on the frontlines during World World War World War II In 1949, she started teaching courses on oil well exploration and development at the Azerbaijan Oil Academy and in 1953 she obtained her Doctor of Philosophy.
Starting from 1954, Tahirova held various high ranking positions at Azerbaijan Council of Workers Union, Council of Ministers of Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic. In 1957, she was appointed the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic. However, her work did not start until 1959 when she graduated from Diplomatic Academy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Union of the Soviet Socialist Republics. According to Soviet laws of the time, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of a union republic was also in charge of other governmental duties. During her term in office, she succeeded in separation of duties and at her request, was relieved from her additional positions within the government in 1968 and completely committed herself to diplomatic service.
Tahirova is known for her bringing more Azerbaijani diplomats to foreign service of the Soviet Union and the diplomatic academy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
In addition to that, as a mediator, Tahirova led the Soviet peacemaking team during the Iran–Iraq War of 1980–1988.
She served as Foreign Minister of the Azerbaijani Soviet Socialist Republic from 1959 to 1983.
She frequently was a member of Soviet diplomatic teams at the United Nations General Assembly sessions.