Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif confirmed that his country will not accept the presence of “terrorist” groups on its borders in the Karabakh region, pointing out that Tehran is awaiting a response regarding its initiative to resolve the conflict in the region.
“We are almost certain that terrorist forces will participate in the conflict in Karabakh, and we confirm that their presence will not be in the interest of any party,” Zarif said, adding, “It is possible that Israel is present in the region near the border with Iran”.
Zarif pointed out that “there are no terrorist elements near the Iranian borders at the present time, but their advance towards the borders is possible,” and stressed that “Iran will not tolerate the presence of such groups near its borders, and that it has informed the Azerbaijani and Armenian sides, as well as its friends in Russia and Turkey”.
Zarif considered that the countries of the region are the biggest losers from the ongoing war in the Karabakh region, and are the most influential and able to end it, stressing that Iran’s initiative to resolve this conflict does not compete with the Minsk group for settling this conflict.
The Iranian foreign minister pointed out that the Iranian president’s envoy had very good discussions in Baku, Yerevan, Moscow and Ankara, and put forward Iran’s initiative to resolve the conflict, noting that the Iranian match is not only related to a temporary ceasefire, but calls for a move towards resolving the conflict that begins by declaring the two parties ’commitment to a group of Principles, and then taking steps, especially the withdrawal of the occupation forces from all occupied areas.
Zarif stressed that Iran’s initiative is based on ensuring the rights of citizens and creating communication and monitoring channels from the countries of the region regarding the implementation of the plan.
Zarif concluded by stressing that Iran expects officials in Azerbaijan and Armenia, as well as its Russian and Turkish friends, to express their opinion on the initiative.
