FM: Iran Not to Tolerate Aggression during Azerbaijan-Armenia Clashes

“The Islamic Republic of Iran is seriously and with high sensitivity monitoring the moves at the bordering areas of Iran and declares that any aggression against our country’s territories by any party engaged in the (conflicts in the) region will not be tolerated and we seriously warn all sides to show necessary caring in this regard,” Foreign Ministry Spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh said.

^{Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Saeed Khatibzaden}

He reiterated the need for respecting Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity, watching for civilians’ lives, stopping clashes and starting serious and timed talks, adding that Iran is ready to help achievement of the aforesaid goals.

Las Monday, Deputy Commander of Iran’s Law Enforcement Forces Brigadier General Qassem Rezayee had also warned Armenia and Azerbaijan which have been engaged in clashes to avoid misfire at Iranian bordering areas.

“We warn them that no bullet should be shot towards our borders. Two mortar rounds had hit areas near our borders by mistake and we notified them and we hope that tranquility will be established,” General Rezayee told reporters in Tehran.

He called on Armenia and Azerbaijan to resolve their problems through talks, and said, “Of course, we monitor their fire exchanges and these clashes will not benefit any of them as others could misuse the situation.”

General Rezayee said that he has sent messages to the authorities of the two countries’ border guards.

Battles between Armenian and Azerbaijan forces over the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh still continue.

Iran has invited the neighboring countries of Azerbaijan Republic and Armenia to avoid tensions and adhere to self-restraint to resolve Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, stressing the need for regional peace.

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif called on his Azeri and Armenian counterparts to refrain from military ways as tensions have risen between the two countries over Nagorno-Karabakh region.

During phone conversations with Armenian Foreign Minister Zohrab Mnatsakanyan and Azeri Foreign Minister Jeyhoun Bayramov, Zarif voiced concern over the situation and called on both sides to declare ceasefire and end hostilities.

He called for negotiations according to the international law and expressed Iran’s readiness to use all its capacities to help settle disputes.