Iran's Zarif expected in Armenia on May 26

PanARMENIAN.Net - Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif will arrive in Yerevan on Wednesday, May 26, the Armenian Foreign Ministry reports.

Zarif is expected to hold meetings with President Armen Sarkissian, acting Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and acting Foreign Minister Ara Aivazian.

On Tuesday, the foreign policy chief of the Islamic Republic met with Azeri President Ilham Aliyev to discuss "the recent border tensions" between Armenia and Azerbaijan, among other things.

A spokesperson for Iran's Foreign Ministry earlier called on both sides to show restraint and avoid fuelling the disagreements. Chairman of the Iranian parliament’s committee on national security and foreign policy Mojtaba Zolnour, meanwhile, voiced support for Armenia’s territorial integrity and maintained that redrawing the borders is "unacceptable" for Iran.

On the morning of May 12, the armed forces of Azerbaijan violated the border of Armenia in the southern province of Syunik, advancing 3.5 kilometers and surrounding Sev Lake, which is situated on the border between the two countries but is predominantly a part of Armenia. On May 13, the Azerbaijani military committed more border violations against Armenia, advancing near Vardenis (Gegharkunik province) and Sisian (Syunik province).