Iran welcomes Azerbaijan-Armenia peace statement

The Iranian Foreign Ministry has welcomed a recent joint statement from Armenia and Azerbaijan on normalising relations.

“Iran welcomes the joint statement of Baku and Yerevan about reciprocal measures to build trust, including the release of their prisoners of war, and considers it as a constructive step in the achievement of a peace agreement,” Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Nasser Kanaani said at a press conference on December 11, Tasnim News Agency reports.

He said that the statement from Armenia and Azerbaijan illustrated how effective regional dialogue and mechanisms are in the settlement of conflicts.

“Achieving sustainable peace in the region requires a trust-building atmosphere and cooperation among the regional parties,” Kanaani added.

The Iranian spokesman also expressed hope that the negotiations between Baku and Yerevan would bear fruit, voicing Iran’s readiness to help the two neighbouring states strike a lasting peace deal.

In a joint statement on December 7, Armenia and Azerbaijan reconfirmed their intention to normalise relations and to reach a peace treaty based on respect for the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity.