It’s a message that Syunik is a red line for Iran: Iranologist on Armenia-Iran exercises

In the light of the regional situation, the Iran-Armenia military exercises gain significance in the media space, regardless of their content, Iranologist Harut Artin Arakelyan told ABC media.

“It is also, in some way, a message that there is communication, there is a relationship between Iran and Armenia, and Iran stands by everything it has previously stated, which is not enough but is necessary,” Arakelyan said regarding the Armenia-Iran military exercises.

According to him, this is a signal that Syunik remains a red line for Iran.

“Of course, nothing has changed for Iran regarding the issue of Syunik, regardless of the decisions made by the Armenian authorities that raise doubts in Iran about Armenia’s intentions. Nevertheless, Armenia is still considered important for Iran with its current borders. I think it is significant that these exercises are taking place against the backdrop of the tense situation prevailing in the Middle East,” the expert noted.

Arakelyan also views this military exercise as a signal to Azerbaijan.

“It shows that as much as it cooperates with Azerbaijan, it cooperates with Armenia. At the same time, the route that should pass through Iran and go to Nakhijevan from Azerbaijan is now being reconstructed, and that was the message Iran sent to Azerbaijan last year: ‘You have a route through Iran to reach Nakhijevan.’ It tried to convey that this should not be leveraged for the purpose of invading Armenia,” Arakelyan concluded.