The official visit of the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Masoud Pezeshkian, to Yerevan took place against the backdrop of a trilateral meeting in Washington, where a preliminary agreement was reached on the implementation of the TRIPP communication project. This project sparked serious discussions and mixed reactions in Tehran, as it was perceived as a potential threat to Iran’s national security. In Iran’s political and expert circles, assessments were once again voiced that preserving Armenia’s sovereignty and authority over its borders is a vital condition for Tehran, as any limitation of these powers is seen as a risk to Iran’s southern frontiers.
In this context, Pezeshkian’s visit to Armenia gained particular significance: it is viewed not only as a continuation of bilateral political dialogue but also as an attempt to strengthen trust, send a clear signal of readiness to develop a strategic partnership, and reaffirm positions on key issues of regional security and infrastructure projects.
Armenia and Iran to Sign a Comprehensive Strategic Cooperation Document
The negotiations during the visit were held at the highest level—between Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and President Masoud Pezeshkian—as well as at the level of foreign ministers. Ararat Mirzoyan discussed a range of issues with his Iranian counterpart, naturally touching on the sensitive topic of the road through Syunik. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Armenian minister presented the opportunities opened by the unblocking of regional communications, emphasizing the importance of reaching mutual understanding on this issue.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, in turn, told Iranian media that Armenia assured Tehran that its territory would never pose a threat to the Islamic Republic of Iran. According to Araghchi, the Armenian side also shared its perspective on the Washington negotiations, underscoring respect for Iran’s “red lines.” In the near future, the two countries plan to sign a comprehensive strategic cooperation document.
Economic Cooperation and the “Crossroads of Peace”
During the Armenian-Iranian business forum, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and President Pezeshkian confirmed the priority of the economic agenda. Pashinyan stated that the parties aim to increase bilateral trade turnover first to 1 billion and then to 3 billion US dollars. While trade turnover in 2024 amounted to 748 million dollars, in the first half of 2025, it already reached 346 million.
The Prime Minister noted that imports from Iran have currently increased by more than 10%, with electricity, copper concentrate, and agricultural products remaining the main export items. Pashinyan emphasized the importance of developing joint production and programs that create added value.
In this context, particular importance is attached to infrastructure development: Iranian companies are involved in implementing Armenia’s “Crossroads of Peace” initiative. Specifically, an Iranian construction company is working on a 32-kilometer section of the Agarak-Kajaran road.
Pezeshkian noted that reaching a trade turnover of 3 billion dollars is an entirely achievable goal, emphasizing that the rest depends on producers and investors. He thanked the Armenian side for its readiness to discuss issues in an atmosphere of mutual understanding and to create new platforms for economic cooperation.
Tensions Eased, But Not Fully Resolved
To what extent was Tehran convinced? Judging by official statements, the Armenian side managed to reduce the level of tension, but it has not yet fully dispelled Iran’s concerns. Public assurances that no threat to the Islamic Republic will ever emanate from Armenian territory were undoubtedly an important signal for Tehran. Yerevan reaffirmed its respect for Iran’s “red lines,” agreed to finalize work on a strategic cooperation document, and confirmed its readiness to develop economic and infrastructure partnerships. This indicates a sustained interest in strengthening trust.
Nevertheless, Tehran’s concerns persist. Iran continues to view the project as a potential challenge to regional security and a risk of limiting Armenia’s sovereign authority over its borders, which for Tehran equates to weakening its own security guarantees.
In this situation, Armenia appears to have gained time, maintained strategic dialogue, and demonstrated a commitment to transparency. However, securing Iran’s full trust will depend on how the TRIPP project is implemented and whether Armenia retains full control over communications on its territory. This factor will be decisive in Tehran’s perception of Yerevan as a reliable and predictable partner.
Tehran and Moscow Will Seek to Keep Agreements on Paper
If the deployment of U.S. forces on the “Trump Route” becomes a reality, Tehran and Moscow will not remain idle. According to Grigor Muradyan, former advisor to the Chairman of the Constitutional Court:
“Iran and Russia will do everything possible to derail the implementation of the Washington agreements. They will likely follow the same scenario used in response to the Trilateral Statement of November 9, 2020. What happened then: steps were taken to devalue the document, commitments on non-aggression and the return of prisoners were not fulfilled or were violated, and actions were taken to shift negotiations to another platform. Now the roles have reversed, and Tehran and Moscow will make every effort to ensure these projects remain on paper as a list of good intentions.”