Iran urges Azerbaijan, Armenia to exercise 'restraint'

Iran has called for an immediate halt in clashes between Azerbaijani and Armenian forces along the disputed border region of Nagorno-Karabakh.

According to Press TV, Foreign Ministry Spokesman Hossein Jaberi Ansari on Saturday said Tehran called on both of its northern neighbors to “refrain from any manner or action” which could "worsen the situation."

He added his country recommends that they cease hostilities by reaching a peaceful solution within the framework of the United Nations regulations.

Jaberi Ansari underlined that as the region has been the scene of “destructive actions” by extremist groups, the news of such clashes has aroused "severe concerns" for Iran.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has also voiced concerns over the conflict and called on both parties to stop the fighting.

“The secretary-general urges all relevant parties to put an immediate end to the fighting, fully respect the ceasefire agreement and take urgent steps to deescalate the situation,” said the statement issued by Ban’s spokesperson.

The Chairman of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier, also urged a halt in the conflict.

"Steinmeier is calling on the sides to cease hostilities immediately," read an OSCE statement.

Following the escalation in the disputed region, Azerbaijan’s ambassador to Russia said that his country was prepared for a military solution.

Earlier, Azerbaijan announced that 12 of its troops had been killed and Armenia said 18 had lost their lives in the violence which started overnight Friday.

ME