Iran Urges Peaceful Settlement of Azerbaijan-Armenia Border Disputes
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iran’s Foreign Ministry expressed concern on the continuation of border clashes between the Azeri and Armenian forces, calling on the two neighbors to show self-restraint and resolve the disputes peacefully.
In a statement released on Thursday, Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Saeed Khatibzadeh expressed regret over the deaths and injuries of nationals from the Republic of Azerbaijan and Armenia, calling on the both parties to show self-restraint.
He also underlined the necessity of the peaceful settlement of border disputes between the two countries.
Khatibzadeh stressed that Baku and Yerevan must overcome the tensions and clashes, and respect the internationally recognized borders.
He further emphasized the necessity of establishing sustainable peace in the South Caucasus region as soon as possible, and expressed Iran's preparedness to provide any kind of assistance for the establishment of sustainable peace in the region.
On Wednesday, three Armenian troops were killed and two wounded in border clashes with Azerbaijani forces.
The two neighboring countries fought a six-week war last year in which Azeri troops drove Armenian forces out of swathes of territory they had long controlled in and around the Nagorno-Karabakh enclave. The conflict claimed thousands of lives.
Although the fighting in Nagorno-Karabakh, which is internationally recognized as part of the Azerbaijan Republic, ended in a Russian-brokered ceasefire, clashes on the border have persisted at irregular intervals this year, occasionally causing fatalities.