Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi explained parts of Iran's initiative for ending the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict upon arrival in Azerbaijani capital Baku late on Tuesday, IRNA reported.

Araghchi is in Baku as the special envoy of Iran to advance Tehran's initiative to settle the aforesaid conflict.

The main purpose of the trip is to present initiative of the Islamic Republic of Iran's for settlement of the conflict and reach a lasting peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan, he said.

“In several stages, the plan can lead to a lasting peace and end the conflicts and, of course, the occupation of the territories of Azerbaijan Republic,” Araghchi said.

He added that protecting the rights of minorities is another basis for Iran's initiative to end the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

Ending the conflict and starting a dialogue with the help of influential countries with the aim of ensuring peace is another key topic of the initiative, Araghchi said.

Iran and Azerbaijan are friendly and neighboring states, he said, noting that Iran supports Azerbaijan’s efforts to “liberate its occupied territories” and that Iran respects territorial integrity of all countries.