The national security doctrine of Iran states that Iran
should have friendly relations with all of its 15 neighbors. Thus, damaging
relations with one neighbor for the benefit of another one goes against this
doctrine. Iranologist Harut Artin Arakelyan said this to ABC Media, referring
to the Iranian Foreign Ministry’s statement that in case of a possible war with
Azerbaijan, the Iranian troops will not enter Armenia.
“We have noted many times that Iran will not send troops
into Armenia. In case of a direct threat of war, Iran will channel all its
efforts to avert the war through diplomacy. However, considering that
Azerbaijan will try to mount a military aggression against Armenia at any rate,
instead of entering Armenia — we have been talking about this for at least two
to three years — Iran will try to stop the Israeli and U.S. terrorist
activities in the region,” the Iranologist said.
According to him, this was the reason why, after the
unfriendly statements made by Pashinyan recently, the Iranian side has stopped
calling its borders with Armenia a red line for them and, changing the
rhetoric, stated that they are concerned about the terrorist groups stationed
along their borders. Iran stated that if need be, they will enter as well and
establish a buffer zone.
“This may be the very move that we call the arrival of the
Iranian troops. In fact, they will enter either the territory of Nakhijevan, or
the occupied territories in the south of Artsakh. Thus, on the grounds of
fighting terrorist groups, Iran will enter these territories and try to avert
the creation of the possible corridor. So, we can say that Iran may take this
step. However, expectations that Iran will send troops into Armenia and fight
Azerbaijan are a political myth that the authorities and their circles have
been trying to cultivate,” Harut Artin Arakelyan said.
