Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, who is in Moscow as the Iranian president’s special envoy to present Iran’s initiative for a settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and hold consultations with Russian officials, says Tehran’s plan is based on humanitarian principles and the claims of the parties to the conflict, IRNA reports.

“The group of OSCE member states has failed to settle the dispute between Armenia and Azerbaijan throughout the past 30 years, and the Islamic Republic of Iran is trying to put an end to the dispute between Baku and Yerevan through regional cooperation, which is considered a complicated task,” he said.

Araghchi declared that the US and France, which are part of the OSCE Minsk Group, are far from the region not only from the political perspective, but also the emotional and moral perspectives and don’t aspire for the establishment of peace in Nagorno-Karabakh.

“We have proposed the regional approach of countries with a key role, and Russia is one of the major countries in the region. The proposal of the Islamic Republic of Iran is based on humanitarian priciples, including the establishment of a ceasefire regime, cessation of attacks on settlements and civilian districts and the return of displaced persons to their homes,” he concluded.

Iran’s deputy foreign minister is visiting Azerbaijan, Russia, Armenia and Turkey to advance Iran’s initiative for a peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. The visit began in Baku and will end in Yerevan and Ankara after consultations with Russian officials today.