Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said on Wednesday that Tehran was closely following up ongoing events in the Caucasus and wants stability and security restored to the region.

“Recent bitter events and human catastrophe have been regrettable and we have been closely following the events, given our sensitivity towards restoration of security and stability there,” Mottaki told Georgian President Michael Saakashvili here Wednesday.

He said Iran has offering solutions to different parties in the region in order to get out of the current stalemate and help restore stability and security.

Consultations have been held with Russian, Azeri, Armenian, and German officials on mechanisms for restoring stability and security to the Caucasus, said Mottaki, adding that today in Tbilisi too he would discuss with Georgian officials ways of getting out of the crisis.

He hoped that suitable steps will be taken during his Georgia visit towards the restoration of security and peace to the Caucasus.

Mottaki also discussed with Saakashvili a host of other subjects, including ways of expanding bilateral ties.

Saakashvili, for his part, said Iran holds a major status and a significant position in the region.

“We attach special importance to expansion of relations with the Islamic Republic of Iran,” said Saakashvili, adding that Tbilisi and Tehran should maintain regular contacts to that end.

Terming the present conflict in the Caucasus as “devastating”, Saakashvili hoped that consultations at the regional level and Iran’s contribution would lead to re-establishment of security and stability in the region.

He said, “We are ready to have necessary cooperation with any regional power that can help normalize conditions,” he added.