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Azerbaijan's latest military offensive in Nagorno-Karabakh runs counter to peace efforts in the region, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Frday.

Speaking at a press briefing, Blinken said he had the opportunity this week to speak to Armenia’s Prime Minister Pashinyan and Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev, and expressed “deep concern” about Azerbaijan's military actions.

“And as a general proposition, for the United States we want to make clear that the use of force is unacceptable and it runs counter to the efforts that we've been engaged in - but more important, both countries have been engaged in - to find a just and dignified peace in the region,” he noted.

"This is something that’s manifestly in the interests of both Azerbaijan and Armenia.  Both have invested in it, including President Aliyev and Prime Minister Pashinyan.  And this is something that we’ve worked to support along with the European Union.  So the actions that we saw this week simply run counter to that effort, and that kind of just and durable peace that we’re working toward would be a tremendous benefit to both countries, to the region, and also, I think, a strong change for the better in the current of history after 30 years of conflict," Blinken added.