The involvement of the United States in the region creates additional security guarantees, Secretary of Armenia’s Security Council Armen Grigoryan has said in an interview the Voice of America.

According to him, there are two main factors – the retaliatory measures taken by the Armenian army and the involvement of the American side – that have made it possible to cease hostilities after Azerbaijan’s latest offensive against Armenia.

“The personal involvement of Secretary of State [Antony] Blinken, who had several calls with the Prime Minister of Armenia and the President of Azerbaijan, as well as intensive U.S. involvement at other levels, attempted to stop the escalation,” Grigoryan said.

The latest round of fighting between the two countries began in the wee hours of September 13, when the Azerbaijani military attacked Armenian posts and shelled Armenian settlements both on the border and deep behind the frontline. At least 207 people are dead or missing as a result, the Security Council of Armenia said on Monday.