Reuters. Iran hosted talks between the foreign ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan on Monday (October 23), saying they offered an opportunity to bring peace to the South Caucasus.
The two foreign ministers' first meeting since Azerbaijan's aggression in September 2023.
"We believe the region's problems, especially in the South Caucasus region, can be solved without interference from others. This is part of the message from today's 3+3 meeting," said Iran's Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian at a news conference referring to the United States and the European Union, whose involvement in the search for a peace agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan has particularly annoyed Moscow. He expressed hope that after beihng held in Turkey next time, the 3+3 platform's other meeting could be organized in Yerevan and Baku.
The talks in Tehran were also attended by the foreign ministers of Russia and of Turkey, a close ally of Azerbaijan. Russia regards itself as the security guarantor between Azerbaijan and Armenia, but the demands and distractions of its war in Ukraine have led to a weakening of its influence.
The meeting was held in the shadow of rising tensions in the Middle East and a major Israeli onslaught on Palestinians in the Gaza Strip following a deadly Hamas attack on Israel on Oct.7.
The 3+3 South Caucasus Platform, which first held talks in 2021, were to include also Georgia, but Georgia has stated previously it did not plan to participate in the initiative and said on Sunday it will not be coming to Tehran.
