Iranian FM invites Azerbaijan, Armenia to exercise self-restraint

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif late on Sunday in separate telephone calls with his Azeri and Armenian counterparts invited them to exercise self-restraint, as tensions have risen between the two countries over Nagorno-Karabakh region, IRNA reports.

Following military conflict between the Republic of Azerbaijan and Armenia, Zarif during phone talks with Armenian Foreign Minister Zohrab Mnatsakanyan and Azeri Foreign Minister Jeyhoun Bayramov expressed concern over the situation and called on both sides to exercise self-restraint, declare ceasefire and end hostilities immediately.

He urged the parties to start negotiations within the framework of the international law.

Zarif also voiced Iran's readiness to use all its capacities to establish a ceasefire, start talks and help establish peace and tranquility.

Earlier on Sunday, Zarif in a Twitter message said Iran is closely monitoring the alarming violence in Nagorno-Karabakh, adding that "our region needs peace".

"Iran is closely monitoring the alarming violence in Nagorno-Karabakh," Zarif wrote in his Twitter account.

"We call for an immediate end to hostilities and urge dialogue to resolve differences," he added.

"Our neighbors are our priority and we are ready to provide good offices to enable talks," Zarif noted.

"Our region needs peace now," he reiterated.