国际英语新闻:Russia, Iran express concern over "illegal" groups' involvement in Nagorno-Karabakh confl

MOSCOW, Oct. 2 (Xinhua) -- Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and his Iranian counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif in a telephone conversation on Friday expressed concern over the involvement of illegal armed groups in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

"Both sides expressed serious concern about the ongoing large-scale hostilities, as well as the involvement of illegal militants of armed groups from Syria and Libya in them," the statement read.

"A call was made for an immediate ceasefire and de-escalation of tension, and the prevention of provocative and militant rhetoric," it added.

Lavrov emphasized that Russia will continue to make all mediation efforts by political and diplomatic means both within the framework of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe Minsk Group and to the best of the country's national capacity.

"The ministers noted the important role that the countries of the region, especially the neighbors of Azerbaijan and Armenia, can play in creating conducive conditions for the parties' soonest return to the negotiating table," the statement said.

On Sunday, Lavrov called on Armenia and Azerbaijan to halt any armed conflict in the Nagorno-Karabakh region as a new round of clashes broke out in the morning in the disputed region.