Iran’s Foreign Ministry on the Situation in the Lachin Corridor

Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Nasser Kanaani expressed hope that the issue of lifting the blockade of the Lachin Corridor will be resolved swiftly. In response to a question from an ISNA correspondent regarding the blockade of the Lachin Corridor, Nasser Kanaani noted,   “The Islamic Republic of Iran has always emphasized the peaceful resolution of disputes between the Republic of Azerbaijan and Armenia.”

The Iranian Foreign Ministry representative emphasized that Tehran is confident that the full implementation of the provisions of the trilateral statement from November 9, 2020, can put an end to the disagreements between the two countries.   Pointing out that establishing peace and stability in the region requires avoiding unnecessary tensions, Kanaani expressed hope that the issue of unblocking the Lachin Corridor would be resolved quickly through peaceful dialogue between Azerbaijan and Armenia.

For its part, ISNA highlights that the recent blockade of the Lachin Corridor has drawn reactions from various countries, as they believe that the closure of this corridor has severe humanitarian consequences for the inhabitants of the region and undermines the peace process.

It is notable that on December 12 at around 10:30 AM, a group of Azerbaijanis in civilian clothes again closed the Stepanakert-Goris highway under the pretext of environmental concerns. By violating the provisions of the trilateral agreement from November 9, 2020, the Azerbaijani side has shut down the only road connecting Artsakh to the world, infringing upon the vital interests and rights of the civilian population.

On December 13, Azerbaijan also halted the gas supply to Artsakh. On December 16, Artsakh's state minister Ruben Vardanyan stated during his live broadcast that Azerbaijan had restored gas supplies without any preconditions and without any concessions from their side.    The only road connecting Artsakh to Armenia remains closed.