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Armenia’s current peace rhetoric sends a dual message, balancing signals of readiness for reconciliation with Azerbaijan while maintaining a hard line on security amid an election period, says political analyst.
Speaking in the AnewZ studio, political analyst Ulviyya Zulfikar described Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s recent remarks on peace with Azerbaijan and military preparedness as a “dual-track signal” aimed at different audiences.
“Externally, Armenia is reassuring that it is ready for peace,” Zulfikar said. “Internally, it is showing that there is no compromise on national security, especially during an election period.”
Her comments come after Nikol Pashinyan said Armenia is not preparing for war and described peace with Azerbaijan as the country’s “most reliable” security guarantee, in a message marking the 34th anniversary of Armenia’s Armed Forces.
“There will be no war,” Pashinyan said, adding that peace offers the strongest assurance of national security.
“During the war period, it was understandable,” she said. “But during the peace process, this creates risks. Selling weapons to one of the parties in such a sensitive period is very risky for the region.”
She stressed that genuine progress toward peace requires restraint as well as political commitment. “If Armenia wants peace, it has to obey the rules of the peace process,” Zulfikar said, adding that militarisation contradicts efforts to de-escalate tensions.
According to analyst, the benefits of peace would be substantial, particularly for Armenia.
“This peace process has economic, trade and security benefits, first of all for Armenia itself,” she said, noting that Armenia’s previous occupation policy had left it isolated from regional economic and trade networks.
Turning to the prospects of a peace treaty, Zulfikar said the Washington summit marked a decisive turning point.
“Everything is going toward this peace treaty,” she said, adding that key remaining obstacles include constitutional amendments in Armenia, which Azerbaijan has said are necessary for long-term stability.
She also pointed to growing international engagement, particularly by the United States, as a sign that the peace process is being closely monitored.
Zulfikar highlighted the importance of regional transit routes, saying they could unlock economic benefits not only for Armenia and Azerbaijan but for the wider region.
“This is about development,” she said. “It’s beneficial first for Armenia, then for Azerbaijan, and for all regional countries.”
Looking ahead, Zulfikar said Armenia’s upcoming elections would be critical.
“There is no way to withdraw from this process,” she said. “If Armenia pulls back, the peace process and regional projects could collapse, and that would have serious consequences domestically.”
Details of a reported draft memorandum of understanding between the United States and Iran offer the clearest picture yet of how both sides plan to end months of conflict and move towards a longer-term settlement.
The U.S. and Iran say they have reached a deal to end their conflict, with an immediate ceasefire and reopening of the Strait of Hormuz after the lifting of the U.S. naval blockade. Talks will continue over the next 60 days to finalise the agreement
A senior U.S. official said on Monday that the memorandum of understanding linked to the U.S.-Iran agreement had been signed by President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance and Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has told U.S. President Donald Trump that Israel does not consider itself bound by a Lebanon-related provision in an emerging agreement with Iran, according to Israeli officials.
A strong 6.7-magnitude earthquake struck Indonesia's Sulawesi island early Tuesday, killing at least one person and injuring four, according to emergency authorities.
More than 8,300 participants from 100 countries have gathered in Uzbekistan's capital for the fifth Tashkent International Investment Forum (TIIF-2026), bringing together investors, policymakers and business leaders from around the world.
Following Armenia’s parliamentary vote, AnewZ spoke to people in Yerevan about the mood in the capital, relations with Azerbaijan and the country’s future. The full vox-pop report premieres on Tuesday (16 June) at 22:30 AZT / 20:30 CET.
France has continued activities that undermine the Azerbaijan-Armenia peace process, including espionage and information campaigns targeting Baku, according to Azerbaijan’s State Commission Against Foreign Interference and Hybrid Threats.
QatarEnergy is prepared to rapidly restore liquefied natural gas (LNG) production at its Ras Laffan complex once shipping routes through the Strait of Hormuz return to normal, according to a source familiar with the matter.
Israel has formally assumed planning and construction powers at one of the most sensitive religious sites in the occupied West Bank, ending an arrangement that had been in place for nearly three decades.
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