Iran urges restraint in Azerbaijan-Armenia dispute

Iran has once again called on the Azerbaijan Republic and Armenia to exercise restraint to end the worst clashes in decades between the two neighbors in the border region of Karabakh.

According to the reports, in a telephone conversation with his Azeri counterpart Lieutenant General Zakir Hasanov on Monday, Defense Minister Brigadier General Hossein Dehqan strongly recommended the two sides to settle the crisis through peaceful approaches.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran will spare no effort to help ease the crisis,” Dehqan said.

The Iranian defense minister also on Sunday held phone talks with his Azeri and Armenian counterparts and insisted on the need for the confrontation to come to an end as soon as possible.

He advised that the crisis be resolved through negotiations.

On the third day of the heaviest clashes in 20 years in the disputed border region, Azerbaijan on Monday said three of its servicemen were killed as the Armenians fired mortar shells at Azeri positions and attacked them using grenade launchers overnight.

SS