Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi says Iran welcomes an agreement reached between the Republics of Armenia and Azerbaijan on the text of a historic peace treaty.
Araqchi, who is in Yerevan on an official visit, said at a joint press conference with his Armenian counterpart, Ararat Mirzoyan, on Tuesday, that the Islamic Republic encouraged Armenia and Azerbaijan to sign the agreement as soon as possible.
That, he said, would greatly contribute to the strengthening of peace and stability, as well as economic development, in the region.
Armenia and Azerbaijan have been locked in conflict over the Nagorno-Karabakh region for nearly four decades. In 2020, Azerbaijan launched a military operation that ultimately resulted in taking about a third of Nagorno-Karabakh. Almost all of the nearly 100,000 Armenians in the region fled to Armenia as refugees.
Iran backs the territorial integrity of countries
Araqchi emphasized that Iran supported the independence and territorial integrity of the countries of the region and opposed any change in their international borders.
“We believe regional issues should be resolved within the region, through dialogue and diplomacy, and without resorting to force,” the foreign minister said.
The Iranian diplomat said the Islamic Republic of Iran also supported the development of economic cooperation, including the opening of communication and transportation routes, between regional states.
Araqchi and Mirzoyan held a meeting before the press conference, where they reviewed important bilateral and regional issues.
Mirzoyan hosted Iran’s foreign minister for a working dinner on Monday night, hours after Araqchi arrived in Armenia’s capital.
Araqchi has also met with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan.
