Iran welcomes Armenia-Azerbaijan peace, cautious on foreign presence in Zangezur corridor

 Iran welcomes peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan but remains cautious about the presence of foreign forces in the South Caucasus, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Sunday.

Araghchi told reporters he expected calls from Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan and Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, and that Armenia’s deputy foreign minister would visit Tehran on Tuesday.

“We are in constant consultations with the parties,” he said. “A transit road is planned under Armenia’s jurisdiction and judiciary, to be operated by an Armenian-American company. We have concerns about the presence of foreign forces in the region.”

He noted that the joint Armenia-Azerbaijan statement issued in Washington affirmed respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of both countries and opposed any border changes, which aligns with Iran’s stance. “So far, our principled positions have been maintained,” he said.