Iran warns Armenia, Azerbaijan against crossing its red lines

Stressing that Armenia and the Republic of Azerbaijan must resolve their dispute over the Nagorno-Karabakh region through dialogue, Brigadier General Abolfazl Shekarchi said the two sides must not cross Iran’s red lines, ROKNA reported.

“Iran will not tolerate any aggression and threats at its frontiers,” Shekarchi said referring to the recent military clashes between Azerbaijan and Armenia and not observing the international rules which have resulted in some mortar shells hitting Iran’s territorial areas.

 “The Islamic Republic of Iran, while strengthening the defensive measures at border areas, emphasizes that the security of border area and Iranian people is the country’s red line,” he added. 

He further called on Armenia and Azerbaijan to resolve their issues through political settlement, be aware of foreign interference, and not to violate Iran’s territorial integrity.

Stating that Iran's good neighborliness and patience with the two countries should not be abused, Shekarchi warned both sides that any aggression against Iranian territory will be responded strongly.

He said that Armenia and the Republic of Azerbaijan must resolve their issues through dialogue and they must not cross Iran’s red lines, adding that otherwise, they will definitely regret.

Nagorno-Karabakh is a breakaway region inside Azerbaijan, but run by ethnic Armenians who either want to secede or join Armenia.

A truce in Nagorno-Karabakh was under severe strain on Tuesday after fresh clashes between Azerbaijani and ethnic Armenian forces, as the rivals extended the deadliest fighting to hit the region since the 1990s.

In less than one month of fighting, several hundred people have been killed, including dozens of civilians on both sides.

In the first week of the fighting, mortar rounds repeatedly strayed across the border, with one wounding a six-year-old child.

Iran has repeatedly warned the warring sides that "any intrusion upon our country's territory by either side of the conflict is intolerable."

Earlier in the day, Russia’s Sputnik news quoted Iran’s Ambassador in Moscow Kazem Jalali as saying, "The Islamic Republic of Iran is thoroughly monitoring activities in the border regions of our country. In this regard, as we declare inadmissible aggression by any of the warring sides on our territory, we seriously warn them of the need to be cautious.”

He added that Iran maintains close contact with all the sides to the conflict.

"The Islamic Republic of Iran will not tolerate aggression at its borders and on its territory. During the recent events unfolding between Armenia and Azerbaijan, we told both sides that anyone violating this principle will be fully rejected", Jalali said.