Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian had a telephone conversation with his Iranian colleague Mohammad Javad Zarif following an unprecedented escalation on the Nagorno Karabakh contact line, IRNA news agency said.

In the phone talk on Tuesday, April 5, Zarif stressed the need for halting the armed conflict in the region.

He further urged restoration of peace in the region. During the conversation, the Iranian official voiced Iran’s readiness to “play a role” to that end, IRNA says.

Zarif made the call on his way to Ramsar in the north of Iran where he is to meet with his counterparts from Azerbaijan and Turkey.

As many as 20 Karabakh servicemen were killed and 70 were wounded in the course of military operations. In addition, 4 civilians and 7 volunteers have been killed.

26 Karabakh soldiers have gone missing so far.

As of 10:00 p.m., April 5, the Azerbaijani side has lost 29 tanks and over 5 armored vehicles, including an IFV, as well as 1 TOS-1A Solntsepyok multiple rocket launcher, 1 BM-21 Grad multiple rocket launcher, 2 military helicopters and 7 unmanned aerial vehicles.

Seven Karabakh tanks have been neutralized since April 2. The Armenian side has lost eight positions (300 meters overall).