Iran seeks sustainable ceasefire in Nagorno-Karabakh region: Deputy FM

Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Political Affairs Abbas Araqchi says the Islamic Republic seeks to help establish a lasting ceasefire in the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region, where hundreds have been killed in more than a month of fighting between Azerbaijan and Armenia.

Araqchi made the remarks in a Friday meeting with Foreign Minister of Armenia Zohrab Mnatsakanyan in Yerevan, on the third leg of a four-nation tour aimed at promoting Tehran’s initiative for the settlement of the Karabakh conflict.

During the meeting, the Iranian diplomat presented the country’s peace proposal to the Armenian foreign minister and said Tehran has the potential for cooperation with the warring sides to help establish a ceasefire in the disputed region.

Mnatsakanyan, for his part, said Armenia understands Iran’s sensitivity to new threats to regional security and hailed Iran’s role in maintaining stability and peace in the region.

The Armenian foreign minister added that Iran’s approach to the resolution of the Karabakh conflict would be studied in detail.

During the meeting, both sides expressed concern over the deployment of international terrorists from the Middle East to the Karabakh region, saying it poses a serious threat to the entire region.

Araqchi had earlier visited Azerbaijan and Russia before arrival in Armenia. The tour will later take the Iranian diplomat to the Turkish capital, Ankara.

Speaking upon his arrival in the Azerbaijani capital of Baku on Tuesday night, Araqchi announced parts of the initiative to end the Karabakh conflict, saying the proposed plan aims to promote “lasting peace” and settle the decades-long dispute between Baku and Yerevan.

Iran’s initiative aims to promote ‘lasting peace’ in Nagorno-Karabakh: Araqchi

Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Political Affairs Abbas Araqchi says the Islamic Republic’s initiative aims to promote “lasting peace” and settle the decades-long dispute between Baku and Yerevan.

He said, “In several stages, this plan can lead the situation to a lasting peace and end the existing conflict and, of course, the occupation of the territories of the Republic of Azerbaijan.”

Araqchi described the end of the occupation of the territories of the Republic of Azerbaijan as an “important element” in Tehran’s proposed plan and said, “The protection of minority rights and humanitarian rights is another basis for Iran's initiative to end the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.”

The escalation began on September 27 after Armenian separatists — who have been seeking to break the region away from Azerbaijan for around three decades — opened fire on Azeri soldiers. More than 1,000 people, including more than a 100 civilians, have reportedly died in the violence.

The violence has been rated the worst to plague Nagorno-Karabakh since 1992, when Armenians invaded the region and forced Azeris into a retreat.

Baku and Yerevan plan to begin a third US-mediated attempt to establish a ceasefire on Monday. Two earlier Russia-brokered ceasefire agreements collapsed immediately after taking effect, with both sides accusing each other of violations.

In late September, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani held a telephone conversation with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, calling on Armenia and Azerbaijan to show restraint and reject any foreign interference over the Karabakh dispute,

The president warned that the region cannot tolerate a new war.

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