IRAN  - Iran's Foreign Ministry Spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast has expressed regret over the recent bloody clashes in Tajikistan's eastern Gorno-Badakhshan Province which killed dozens of people.

"We hope that the recent events in Tajikistan's Badakhshan Province will end as soon as possible and with minimal human and financial losses and security and peace will be continued [in the region]," Mehmanparast said on Sunday.

The Tajik security service issued a statement on Tuesday saying at least 12 government troops and 30 militants were killed in clashes near the town of Khorog in the Badakhshan region. The fighting reportedly erupted in four neighborhoods in the town.

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  • On Wednesday, the Tajik government declared a truce to allow negotiations between Tajikistan's Defense Minister Sherali Khayrulloyev and delegates from the town of Khorog, a military source said.

It was the worst outbreak of violence in Tajikistan since 2010, when 40 security forces were killed in a prison break.

The autonomous Gorno-Badakhshan Province is a mountainous region bordering Afghanistan, China, and Kyrgyzstan. The inhabitants of the region are mainly Ismaili Shia Muslims. The region is also home to the Pamiri minority.