Long War Journal: Armenia is Iran’s last leverage against Turkey and Azerbaijan

Long War Journal covered the Armenian-Iranian military exercises that were held on April 9-10.

As noted, it is not the first time Islamic Republic officials have expressed firm opposition to territorial changes in the Caucasus. Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei stressed Iran’s heightened sensitivity to border issues involving Armenia during his May 2024 meeting with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan. His stance was later reinforced by IRGC member and Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, who reassured his Armenian counterpart that Iran would firmly oppose any redrawing of regional borders.

It is mentioned that Iran and Armenia deepened their relations in 2024, following the third wave of clashes between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the contested Nagorno-Karabakh region. Yerevan has grown increasingly reliant on Tehran following its departure from Russia’s Collective Security Treaty Organization and the lack of assurances from NATO.

The article says the drill was held on the same day that Israeli and Turkish delegations met in Azerbaijan to discuss military deconfliction in Syria.

Turkey has increasingly filled the vacuum left by Iran in Syria, the Caucasus, and with the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).

Turkish-backed rebels also ousted the Bashar al Assad regime in Syria, which Iran had long supported. As noted, Armenia is Iran’s last leverage against Turkey and Azerbaijan.