WANA (Oct 19) – The third foreign ministerial of the 3+3 regional cooperation mechanism was held on Friday in Istanbul, Turkey. This meeting, attended by the foreign ministers of Iran, Turkey, Russia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan, focused on discussing and resolving issues related to the South Caucasus through dialogue and enhancing cooperation and integration in the region.

 

According to the final statement of the meeting, facilitating cooperation in cultural, scientific, educational, and tourism sectors, along with interaction between governmental structures, was set as a priority.

 

Abbas Araghchi, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran, described the holding of such meetings as a symbol of the regional countries’ will to solve the issues in the region.

 

He also welcomed the recent progress in peace talks between Azerbaijan and Armenia, stressing that respect for territorial integrity, national sovereignty, and internationally recognized borders, along with refraining from threats or use of force, is essential for achieving lasting peace in the region.

 

Araghchi further pointed to the continued brutal crimes of the Israeli regime in Gaza and Lebanon, condemning the silence of the U.S. and some Western countries in the face of these actions as a reflection of their hypocritical behavior.

 

The Iranian Foreign Minister called for an end to political and military support for Israel and urged the international community to take serious action to halt the ongoing genocide in Gaza and other crimes against humanity. He also emphasized the urgent need for humanitarian aid to be sent to displaced people in Gaza and Lebanon.