Iran Closely Monitoring Developments in the South Caucasus
WANA (Aug 17) – Iran’s Foreign Ministry Spokesperson, Esmail Baghaei, has underlined Tehran’s vigilance regarding the recent developments in the South Caucasus, stressing that the issue is neither underestimated nor oversimplified by the Islamic Republic.
Speaking in a live interview with Radio, Baghaei highlighted the strategic importance of the South Caucasus, describing it as a region of significant political, economic, and geopolitical relevance for Iran, neighboring states, and particularly Russia.
“We are monitoring developments with open eyes. We neither downplay nor exaggerate any issue,” the spokesperson said, emphasizing Iran’s sensitivity toward the situation on its northwestern borders.
No Zangezur Corridor – Only Armenia-Run Transit Road, Araghchi Confirms
WANA (Aug 10) – Iran’s Foreign Minister announced that in the latest developments regarding the Zangezur region, the idea of establishing a corridor has been dropped, and the current plan involves only the construction of a transit road under Armenia’s sovereignty. Seyed Abbas Araghchi, speaking on Friday (August 10) on the sidelines of the […]
Baghaei warned against misinterpretations and the spread of misinformation, noting that certain narratives are based on false information and may seek to disrupt Iran’s relations with the South Caucasus countries. “We recommend avoiding language and concepts that could lead to misunderstandings,” he said.
Addressing concerns about Armenia’s border continuity, Baghaei stated, “Our discussion is about maintaining Armenia’s border connections. We believe this matter must be handled with precision and sensitivity.”
He recalled that during the recent conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan, the rail route in southern Armenia was disrupted. On this point, he underlined Iran’s firm opposition to external interference: “Foreign intervention is our red line. We do not see any benefit in the presence of extra-regional forces, which only complicates the geopolitical situation.”
Armenia, Iran Discuss White House Meeting Outcomes
WANA (Aug 11) – In a phone conversation, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has warned against possible U.S. attempts to exploit the recently agreed Caucasus transit corridor project for hegemonic purposes under the guise of economic investment and peacebuilding. Referring to the agreement on implementing the corridor with U.S. participation, Pezeshkian stressed the need to […]
According to Baghaei, Armenian officials have assured Tehran that the reconstruction of the disrupted railway will be carried out by Armenian companies in cooperation with an American firm registered under Armenian law, and that no foreign forces will be stationed along the borders.
The spokesperson further referred to Article 12 of the Armenia–Azerbaijan peace agreement, which stipulates that no foreign military forces will be deployed along their borders. “We are highly sensitive to this matter, and Armenia itself is aware of the consequences of hosting foreign forces,” he noted.
Concluding his remarks, Baghaei reiterated the South Caucasus’s importance for Iran: “We enjoy good relations with the South Caucasus countries and consider the region’s stability and security vital for us. The Islamic Republic of Iran is ready to strengthen bilateral cooperation and will support any measure that enhances peace and stability in the region.”
Zangezur Corridor. Social media/ WANA News Agency
