new peace mediation efforts were initiated by the iranian president, akbar hashemi rafsanjani in the first half of 1992, after the events in khojaly and the resignation of azeri president ayaz mutallibov. by conducting shuttle diplomacy in armenia and azerbaijan for several weeks, iranian diplomats were able to bring new president of azerbaijan yaqub mammadov and president of armenia levon ter-petrosian to tehran for bilateral talks on 7 may 1992. the tehran communiqué was signed by mammadov, ter-petrosian, and rafsanjani following the agreement of the parties to international legal norms, stability of borders and to deal with the refugee crisis. however, the peace efforts were disrupted on the next day when armenian troops captured the town of shusha and failed following the capture of the town lachin on 18 may.