In late 2025, Iran appeared to recalibrate its approach to Armenia, shifting from a security-centred posture toward a more conventional diplomatic engagement, as regional dynamics in the South Caucasus evolved.
A visible signal of this adjustment was Tehran’s decision to replace its ambassador in Yerevan.
Mehdi Sobhani, who concluded his mission in September 2025, had frequently been described by regional analysts as closely aligned with Iran’s security establishment, including structures linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Iranian officials have not publicly commented on such characterisations.
He was succeeded by Khalil Shirgholami, a career diplomat with a background in international studies and research.
The appointment was widely interpreted by observers as a signal that Tehran intended to place greater emphasis on traditional diplomacy rather than overt security signalling in its engagement with Armenia.
This personnel change coincided with a broader regional shift. On 8 August 2025, Armenia and Azerbaijan signed a U.S.-mediated normalisation agreement in Washington.
The agreement addressed long-standing disputes and outlining frameworks for economic cooperation and regional connectivity.
Discussions linked to the agreement included a proposed transport route connecting Azerbaijan with its Nakhchivan exclave via Armenia’s Syunik region.
The initiative, publicly referred to by U.S. officials as the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity, or TRIPP, was presented as part of broader efforts to unblock regional transport links, without altering internationally recognised borders.
Iran’s initial response to these developments was measured. In late July 2025, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei reiterated Tehran’s long-standing position that any regional transport arrangements must respect state sovereignty and territorial integrity, while publicly welcoming dialogue around Armenia’s “Crossroads of Peace” initiative.
Iranian and Armenian officials held consultations in August 2025 to discuss regional connectivity, during which Tehran reiterated that it was closely following developments affecting its northern neighbourhood and expected transparency regarding transit arrangements.
Diplomacy over Confrontation
Observers noted a subtle shift in Iran’s public language in the second half of 2025, with official statements increasingly referring to “transport routes” rather than “corridors”, a change some analysts interpreted as an effort to de-escalate rhetoric and keep discussions within diplomatic frameworks.
This tone was reflected on 29 December 2025, when Baghaei stated that Iran’s regional relationships are based on mutual interests and respect for sovereignty, and that Tehran remained committed to developing ties with Armenia across economic, political and cultural fields.
The remarks contrasted with earlier Iranian statements that had placed stronger emphasis on opposing external involvement near Iran’s borders.
At the same time, Armenia signalled a gradual diversification of its foreign relations. In late November 2025, Deputy Foreign Minister Vahan Kostanyan visited Israel, while Armenia’s economy minister held meetings with Israeli officials.
Such engagements, while not directed against Iran, have traditionally been approached with caution by Tehran.
Iran’s response appeared restrained. In early 2026, Deputy Foreign Minister Majid Ravanchi travelled to Yerevan for talks with Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan.
Official readouts focused on cooperation, trade, and the unblocking of regional infrastructure, using language that emphasised dialogue rather than opposition.
Armenian officials, for their part, publicly reaffirmed that relations with Iran remain strategically important, even as Yerevan engages with broader regional and international frameworks.
Analysts suggest Iran’s evolving approach reflects a recognition that it has limited leverage to reverse Armenia’s expanding diplomatic options or fully shape regional transport initiatives.
Instead, Tehran appears focused on safeguarding its interests through diplomatic engagement, economic cooperation, and cautious participation in emerging regional formats.
By appointing a career diplomat in Yerevan and moderating its public rhetoric, Iran is signalling an intent to maintain stable neighbourly relations, even as the South Caucasus enters a period of wider geopolitical realignment.
Tensions between the U.S. and Iran are escalating, with Washington ordering a significant military build-up in the region and multiple countries evacu...
Two people were killed and around 40 injured when a tram derailed in central Milan on Friday (27 Februrary), a spokesperson for local firefighters sai...
Abdullah Öcalan, the jailed leader of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), issued a statement on Friday (27 February) calling on Ankara to ...
Colombia’s commerce minister, Diana Marcela Morales, has said she will propose raising tariffs on certain Ecuadorian goods from 30% to 50%, as a tra...
Former U.S. President Bill Clinton said on Friday (27 February) that he had no knowledge of the crimes committed by Jeffrey Epstein and would not have...
Tensions between the U.S. and Iran are escalating, with Washington ordering a significant military build-up in the region and multiple countries evacuating diplomatic staff amid fears of further instability.
Speaking during a closed-door deposition in New York on Thursday (February), former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said she did not “recall” ever meeting the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and had “no knowledge of his crimes”.
Pakistan’s declaration of an “open war” with Afghanistan must be understood in the context of months of escalating violence, regional analysts have said, describing the latest developments as a significant shift in the nature of the conflict.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Friday urged Afghanistan and Pakistan to resolve their differences through dialogue, offering Tehran’s assistance to facilitate understanding between its eastern neighbours.
Tensions between the U.S. and Iran are escalating, with Washington ordering a significant military build-up in the region and multiple countries evacuating diplomatic staff amid fears of further instability.
The death toll from heavy rains and flooding in Brazil’s Minas Gerais state has risen to 46, authorities said, with 21 people still reported missing. The storms triggered landslides and widespread flooding, displacing thousands across Juiz de Fora and Uba.
The situation in Cuba was heating up and called for restraint following a deadly incident involving a Florida-registered speedboat off the coast of the Caribbean island, the Kremlin said on Thursday (26 February).
Pakistani air strikes hit a weapons depot on the western outskirts of Kabul overnight, triggering hours of secondary explosions that rattled homes across the Afghan capital and left residents fearing further violence.
Russian President Vladimir Putin’s special envoy, Kirill Dmitriev, arrived in Geneva and may hold talks with U.S. officials, according to the RIA news agency.
Abdullah Öcalan, the jailed leader of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), issued a statement on Friday (27 February) calling on Ankara to adopt legislation aimed at promoting political inclusion.
Pakistani air strikes hit a weapons depot on the western outskirts of Kabul overnight, triggering hours of secondary explosions that rattled homes across the Afghan capital and left residents fearing further violence.
Pakistan’s declaration of an “open war” with Afghanistan must be understood in the context of months of escalating violence, regional analysts have said, describing the latest developments as a significant shift in the nature of the conflict.
Israeli strikes killed five people in Gaza on Thursday (26 February), according to health officials in the territory. The Israeli military said separately that it had killed a militant who posed an imminent threat to its forces in southern Gaza.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Friday urged Afghanistan and Pakistan to resolve their differences through dialogue, offering Tehran’s assistance to facilitate understanding between its eastern neighbours.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment