Civilnet
By Alexander Pracht
Yerevan and Tehran are working on a comprehensive strategic partnership agreement, Iran’s ambassador to Armenia, Mehdi Sobhani, revealed at a press conference held at the embassy Thursday. He also said Iran does not mind Armenia's partnership with the United States or the presence of the European Union monitoring mission in the country.
"We have numerous joint projects: last year, our countries signed a cooperation memorandum in scientific, educational, and cultural spheres, deepening our relations," he added.
Opposing the ‘Zangezur corridor’
The Ambassador emphasized Iran's unwavering support for Armenia's territorial integrity and clarified Tehran's position on regional transportation routes. He stressed that while Iran supports the unblocking of regional connections, as does Armenia, it opposes any corridor-style arrangements that might compromise Armenia’s national sovereignty, as Iran views those as a threat to its own national security.
This is a reference to Azerbaijan’s demands for Armenia to open the so-called Zangezur corridor, a route connecting Azerbaijan’s mainland with its Nakhichevan exclave, separated by Armenia’s Syunik region, also unofficially known as Zangezur. While Armenia’s leadership has not opposed the idea of regional connectivity entirely, it insists that all of Armenia’s internationally recognized territory will remain under its control and that Baku’s demand for a passage without Armenian border controls will not be met.
"We are firm on the issue of our country's security, we are not joking, we will not discuss the issue of the so-called 'Zangezur corridor' with anyone, with any country whatsoever," Sobhani said. “Armenia has the capacity to defend itself, and its power should not be underestimated,” he added, warning Azerbaijan against resorting to aggression to establish the corridor by force.
Last August, Iran engaged in a war of words with Russia over the issue, as Moscow supports the creation of the corridor, envisioning the deployment of its border guards to oversee the route, thereby increasing its presence in the region. At the time, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi declared that any extraterritorial corridor arrangement is a red line for Tehran as it would cut the two countries off from each other.
To learn more about the corridor and its impact on regional policies, read our explainer.
Partnerships with the West ‘not a problem’
Ambassador Sobhani also addressed recent speculation regarding Iran's stance on Armenia's growing partnerships with the West, affirming that Tehran respects Armenia's policy of diplomatic diversification. Last month, Armenia and the U.S. elevated their diplomatic ties by signing a Charter on Strategic Partnership. Although the document does not offer security guarantees to Armenia, it lays the groundwork for expanded cooperation, particularly in civilian nuclear energy.
“The Armenian government has clearly stated to us that the recently signed document between the US and Armenia is not directed against Iranian-Armenian relations and emphasized that they will not take any steps that would harm Iranian-Armenian relations or Iran's interests,” Sobhani explained.
He also addressed the extension last week of the European Union Monitoring Mission in Armenia through February 2027. “Armenia has assured us that the mission is solely aimed at maintaining stability and preventing tensions on the border,” Sobhani said, adding that Armenia’s developing relations with the EU may prove useful for Iran as well, both economically and politically.
The unarmed mission was deployed to Armenia’s border with Azerbaijan in February 2023, several months after Baku launched an invasion into Armenian territory. It monitors and reports on the situation on the border only from the Armenian side, as Azerbaijan rejected an offer to also operate on its side.
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