In a telephone conversation on Tuesday, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin urged discussions within the 3+3 format to resolve issues in the Nagorno-Karabakh region, disputed between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

The 3+3 format cooperation mechanism features the three South Caucasus countries of Armenia, Georgia, and Azerbaijan plus Russia, Turkey, and Iran.

Azerbaijan’s military launched an operation in Nagorno-Karabakh on September 19, announcing 24 hours later to have won control over the enclave, which is internationally recognized as being part of Azerbaijan’s territory but is populated by ethnic Armenians.

In 2020, Azerbaijan and Armenia waged a six-week war over the disputed region that killed thousands on both sides, before Moscow brokered a ceasefire deal that included the deployment of 1,960 Russian peacekeepers to the region for five years.

In their phone call, Raisi and Putin stressed the need to avoid any foreign intervention in regional matters.

President Raisi appreciated the good progress made in bilateral relations and urged the expedited implementation of joint agreements and initiatives, especially in key areas of transit, transportation, energy exchange, and the completion of the North-South corridor.

The Iranian president expressed gratitude for Russia's support for Iran’s membership in BRICS, labeling the group of major emerging economies as an influential organization in shaping a multipolar world

He said BRICS had the potential to enhance bilateral, regional, and international interactions among Iran, Russia, and other member countries.

In response, President Putin acknowledged the record-breaking trade volume between Russian and Iran in the past year.

He also expressed hope for the swift realization of the Rasht-Astara railway, a transport corridor that connects railway networks of Russia, Azerbaijan and Iran, saying the project would help significantly increase trade exchanges in the region.

President Putin further described Iran as a strategic partner of Russia