Iran calls for peaceful settlement of Karabakh dispute

Iran’s Foreign Ministry Spokesman Seyyed Abbas Mousavi called for the peaceful settlement of conflicts over Nagorno-Karabakh, saying the Islamic Republic is opposed to any measure that would lead to the escalation of tensions over the disputed region.

According to Tasnim news agency, reacting to the upcoming elections scheduled to be held in the disputed region, Mousavi said in a statement on Monday “The Islamic Republic of Iran is opposed to any measure leading to the escalation of tensions and disputes in the region.”

Mousavi added, “We believe whatever measure that further complicates the path to the settlement of disputes between our two neighboring states, namely the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Republic of Armenia, must be avoided.”

The Foreign Ministry spokesperson also stressed the need for the peaceful resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict within the framework of the international principles and law.

The Azerbaijan Republic has been engaged in a dispute with Armenia over Karabakh; an Azerbaijani territory seized by Armenian separatists in a bloody war in the 1990s.

Some 30,000 people were killed in the conflict, which ended with a fragile truce in 1994. The two former Soviet republics are technically still at war and have yet to reach a permanent peace agreement on the issue.

ME