TEHRAN – Tehran will spare no effort to help resolve the territorial dispute between Azerbaijan and Armenia over the Nagorno-Karabakh region, Iranian Majlis Speaker Ali Larijani said in a meeting his Azeri counterpart Ogtay Asadov on Saturday.

Larijani suggested that regional countries can take a collective important step to help end the long-running dispute between Azerbaijan and Armenia.
The senior lawmaker added Iran’s strategic policy is to strengthen peace and security in the Caucasus region.
Asadov, for his part, said great powers have fanned the flames of crisis in the Karabakh region, adding that Baku’s policy is to resolve the crisis peacefully within the country’s territorial integrity.
---------Expanding ties
Larijani said Iran and Azerbaijan have great potential to expand cooperation in areas of energy, industry and economy.
The Azeri speaker also said Baku prioritizes strengthening ties with Iran in all areas. He said expansion of brotherly ties with Tehran is highly important to his country.
The Azeri speaker described Iran as an important country with rich culture and civilization.
---------Iran calls for regional security cooperation
In a separate meeting the Azeri parliament speaker on Saturday, Iran’s Supreme National Security Council Secretary Saeed Jalili called on Saturday for security cooperation between regional countries.
The only solutions to regional crises are ones drawn up by regional nations, Jalili told Asadov.
He said outside powers are seeking their own interests in the region rather than establishing security or resolve crises.
Experience has shown that foreign forces fan the flames of conflicts in countries that they are stationed, he added.
Jalili exemplified Afghanistan, saying the foreign forces have been in the country for almost 9 years but insecurity has increased and drugs production has soared.
The top security official went on to say that Tehran believes in joint security efforts among regional countries. He added Iran is ready to help other nations in the region to strengthen security.
Asadov also said strengthening peace and regional cooperation will benefit the whole region