Iran Urges Baku, Yerevan to Exercise Restraint after New Military Clashes
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – The Foreign Ministry of Iran voiced concern about the outbreak of fresh military clashes between the Republic of Azerbaijan and Armenia, calling on the two neighbors to show restraint and avoid escalation of tensions.
“As in the past, the Islamic Republic of Iran is ready to help the two sides settle differences and establish stability and peace in the region,” Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Saeed Khatibzadeh said on Tuesday.
He added that all countries should respect internationally recognized borders and called on Baku and Yerevan to patch up differences through dialogue and peaceful channels.
The Iranian spokesperson warned that the ongoing challenges would pose a danger to the gradual process to the promotion of regional peace and progress, Press TV reported.
Armenia and Azerbaijan on Tuesday accused each other of initiating fighting along their shared border amid renewed border clashes between the arch foes a year after their war over contested territory.
Russia’s Interfax news agency cited Armenia’s parliament as saying that 15 Armenian soldiers had died in clashes on the country’s border with Azerbaijan. The parliament added that 12 of their soldiers had been captured by Azerbaijan.
On the other side, the Azeri Defense Ministry also spoke of a tense situation on the border with Armenia and said a military operation was underway to repel large-scale “provocations.”
Russian media reported on Tuesday that Armenia had asked Moscow to help defend its territorial sovereignty against attacks by Azerbaijani forces.
Tensions between Yerevan and Baku remain high a year after the arch-foes fought a war over the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region. The six-week conflict, which claimed more than 6,500 lives on both sides, ended last November with a Russian-brokered deal that left Azerbaijan largely in control of the territory.
