Top Iranian MP Calls on Armenia, Azerbaijan to Prevent Regional Instability

Speaking in a Tuesday meeting with Russian Ambassador to Tehran Levan Dzhagaryan, Boroujerdi discussed the escalating fighting between Armenia and Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh region, calling on the two warring sides to show restraint and avoid further violence. 

“Armenia and Azerbaijan should inhibit the spread of crisis and insecurity in the (Middle East) region through using dialogue and political solutions,” the Iranian lawmaker said.

Dzhagaryan, for his part, praised Iran’s positive and constructive stance about the recent crisis in Nagorno-Karabakh region, saying that the Islamic Republic is playing a major role in helping maintain peace and stability in the region.

Elsewhere in his remarks, the Russian envoy said Chairwoman of the Russian Federation Council Valentina Matviyenko and Chairman of the Russian Duma's Foreign Affairs Committee Alexei Pushkov plan to visit Iran in the near future.

Tehran has repeatedly called on Baku and Yerevan in recent days to show restraint and start peaceful negotiations instead of military confrontation.

At least 30 soldiers have been killed in fighting between Armenian and Azerbaijani forces along the frontlines of the Nagorno-Karabakh region. Each side blames the other for the fighting.

Nagorno-Karabakh has been under the control of Armenian military and separatists since a war between Armenia and Azerbaijan ended in 1994. Years of negotiations have brought little progress in resolving the dispute.

Fighting on Saturday marked the worst clashes since 1994, said David Babayan, spokesman for the region's separatist president.