TEHRAN – On Wednesday, President Hassan Rouhani made telephone calls to his Armenian and Azeri counterparts, urging them to show restraint in the conflict over the Nagorno-Karabakh region.

Rouhani told Azeri President Ilham Aliyev and Serzh Sargsyan to fully respect the ceasefire announced by two countries.

The Iranian president expressed sadness over the loss of lives in the exchange of fire in border clashes between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran is very sad over military and non-military people in the two neighboring and friendly countries,” Rouhani noted.

The president added that Iran is ready to use all his efforts “for a peaceful settlement of differences between the two neighboring and friendly countries through political dialogue.”

Rouhani urged his Azeri and Armenian president to use all their efforts to make sure that the ceasefire is fully “monitored.”

Resumption of clashes will not be in the interest of all regional countries, especially the Republic of Azerbaijan and Armenia, the Iranian president remarked.

“The region is already facing great crises and terrorists and their supporters are always seeking to spread the crises to the entire region. In such condition further tension and class can prepare the situation for their intention,” the president explained.

Exchange of fire between Azerbaijan and Armenia broke out on April 2. Dozens of servicemen from both sides have been killed and some more injured.

While each of the two countries have been pointing the finger at each other, accusing each of war-mongering, the international community have invited the two sides to exercise restraint.

PA/AK