Overall, relations between Armenia and Iran continue to develop in a rather positive direction, and there are no visible disagreements between the parties. This opinion was expressed by Iranologist Armen Vardanyan.

“Based on the statements made by the Armenian and Iranian sides in Yerevan during the visit of the head of the Iranian Foreign Ministry Abbas Seyed Araghchi, it can be stated that the Yerevan talks also took place in a constructive atmosphere of mutual understanding. I believe that our relations will continue to develop in the same direction in defiance of the forces in Armenia and outside Armenia that are trying to drive a stake into Armenian-Iranian relations,” he believes.

Such forces, according to the expert, are trying to tear Armenia away from Iran. Hence the statements that Tehran allegedly opposes the deployment of the EU Civilian Mission in Armenia, which have nothing to do with reality. And the latter allegedly carries out intelligence activities in the Iranian direction.

Similarly, according to Vardanyan, such forces tried to present the joint Armenian-American military exercises planned in Armenia as also directed against Iran. The expert considers all such irrational actions as part of a hybrid information war waged against Armenia, the purpose of which is to create artificial tension in Tehran’s relations with Yerevan.

“The statement of the Iranian minister about the observed trend of increasing threat of escalation in the South Caucasus is addressed to Azerbaijan. The latter, along with its sponsors, is today the number one factor in destabilizing the situation in the region. Aliyev will not dare to start a large-scale war; not only Iran, but also the West stands in this way. And in this case, he will have problems with all the listed actors. But Aliyev may well provoke limited, local clashes in order to ruin the process of signing a peace agreement with Armenia,” the expert predicts.

Alexander Arutyunov