Iran in contact with Armenia, Azerbaijan to ease tensions

Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman said Tehran is closely monitoring the situation in the Caucasus and stays in contact with Armenia and the Republic of Azerbaijan to ensure peace and security.

Asked about the possibility of a flare-up of tensions between Baku and Yerevan, Nasser Kan'ani stated at a press conference on Monday that Iran is in contact with the officials of Armenia and the Republic of Azerbaijan.

“The Armenian officials voiced concern about the possibility of (military) clashes, but the Azerbaijani officials gave a message that they have no intention of clashing (with Armenia),” he added, describing the Republic of Azerbaijan’s recent deployment of troops as a “conventional military action” ahead of winter.

“Iran is seriously monitoring the developments. We’d give an assurance that Iran’s borders are safe and we support the security of boundaries,” Kan'ani underlined.  

He noted that Iran has unchanging and transparent stances on the situation in Nagorno-Karabakh.

“Iran’s stance on the Nagorno-Karabakh region, which has been announced explicitly several times, is not secret. Nagorno-Karabakh is part of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the rights and security of its residents must be defined within a definite framework,” he added.

Reiterating Iran’s call for respect for the territorial integrity of states and avoidance of tensions, Kan'ani said a major step in resolving disputes between Armenia and the Republic of Azerbaijan and achieving peace and security is for the two countries to mutually recognize each other’s territorial integrities.

On Sunday, a military official dismissed as “baseless” the reports about the deployment of Iranian troops on the northern border with the Republic of Azerbaijan under the current tense circumstances in the South Caucasus.

Deputy Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces for International Cooperation Brigadier General Mohammad Ahadi, who was leading an Iranian military delegation in Baku for the Azerbaijan-Iran Joint Commission meeting, said such reports are “completely groundless”.

He also played down suggestions that Iran sought to dispatch forces for engagement in a possible war between the Azerbaijan Republic and Armenia.

He said Iran and the Azerbaijan Republic enjoy “very good” relations.

ME