By: Kayhan Int’l Staff Writer

The crisis that has erupted again in the southern Caucasus over the long disputed region that is called Qarabakh should neither be blamed on the Republic of Armenia nor on the Republic of Azerbaijan.  
There are ulterior motives behind the fresh round of bloodshed in these scenic spots blessed by an abundance of natural resources and pleasant weather; and certainly the locals or for that matter the authorities in either Yerevan or Baku, are not behind them.
As a matter of fact, both the sides to the conflict do not want disputes between them to flare up into bloody clashes as happened over the past few days in a region through which vital oil pipelines pass.
Moscow, which used to be the seat of the Soviet Empire that for seventy years ruled the Caucasus following its seizure from Iran by Czarist Russia in the middle of the 19th century, has no interest in igniting a war between the two sides.
This means the real culprit is somewhere else, and certainly not in any of the West European capitals, which of late are trying to increase their influence in the Caucasus.
All pointers indicate that the ‘villain of the piece’ is on the other side of world, sitting cozily in the so-called White House in Washington, where the flames of racism are burning the US for the past six weeks following the brutal killing of Afro-American citizen, George Floyd, by white police officers.
Uncle Sam, in view of its satanic policies, has every reason to disturb the peace of the Caucasus, especially since the region is bordered by Russia and the Islamic Republic of Iran.
Instability in a region that serves as a corridor for pipelines taking oil and gas to world markets is in the interests of mischief-monger US, and the current clashes in the Tavush area are designed to spread the flames of war closer to the pipelines, including the South Caucasus Pipeline (SCP).
SCP is part of the Southern Gas Corridor, which also includes the Trans-Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline (TANAP) and the Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP).
These facts warrant both the republics – Armenia and Azerbaijan – to be wary of American interference. They should not allow the US to succeed in its evil designs to the detriment of the people and nations of the Caucasus region.
Thus, in order to defuse the crisis, the Islamic Republic of Iran has offered to mediate and has called on the two sides to engage in dialogue.
Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif of Iran has already held separate telephone talks with his Azeri and Armenian counterparts, Elmar Mammadyarov and Zohrab Mnatsakanyan, respectively.
Tehran has advised both Yerevan and Baku to exercise restraint and initiate talks aimed at resolving rifts peacefully. Iran strives for peace and collective development of its neighbours, and hopefully good sense will prevail on both sides.
Peace and stability of the Caucasus is indeed vital for the whole region, and all efforts should be made by all sides to keep out the satanic Americans as well as their devilish minions, the Zionists, who always try to fish in troubled waters.