Many in Armenia fear that a possible weakening or destabilization of Iran could embolden Azerbaijan to invade Armenia in an attempt to open the corridor to its Nakhichevan exclave through Syunik, the only Armenian region bordering the Islamic Republic. Iranian leaders have repeatedly warned that attempts to strip Iran of its common border with Armenia are a “red line” for them.
Speaking during a news conference, Ambassador Mehdi Sobhani insisted that Tehran’s position on the geopolitical issue remains unchanged.
“We consult and communicate with countries of the region and present our concerns,” Sobhani said when asked about the risk of an Azerbaijani attack on Syunik. “Our red lines are clear. We have proven that we will never deviate from those red lines.
“Of course, we live in a world of possibilities and some possibilities can be worrying. But we deal with realities and facts and maintain our vigilance. I think the Armenian government is also following the developments. We have very close ties and are constantly consulting with the Armenian government.”
“The behavior of countries demonstrated today will impact our future relations with them. Friends and enemies are recognized in times of trouble,” added the diplomat.
The Armenian government was quick to condemn Israel’s June 13 strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities and military sites that triggered the ongoing conflict. Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan phoned his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi on June 14.
So far the government has reported no meetings of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian and other high-ranking officials that discussed Yerevan’s responses to potential security fallout from the Iran-Israel war. Unlike Armenian opposition leaders, Pashinian and members of his government have not publicly expressed concern about it.
Israel began its military campaign against Iran amid a fresh Turkish-Azerbaijani military exercise held in Nakhichevan. A senior aide to Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev said the following day that Yerevan should take an “important first step towards the ‘Zangezur corridor’” demanded by Baku.
Pashinian’s government has ruled out, at least until now, any extraterritorial transport links between Nakhichevan and the rest of Azerbaijan that would compromise Armenian control over them.