Artur Vanetsyan: Iran's stability vital for Armenia

Homeland Party leader Artur Vanetsyan has highlighted Iran’s critical role for Armenia’s security, warning of serious consequences if Iran is weakened amid escalating regional tensions.

“Iran plays a crucial role in Armenia's security architecture. A strong and stable Iran is especially important in the current situation, where Azerbaijan attempts to seize Armenia’s territories and pressure Armenia into further concessions through aggressive rhetoric and actions,” Vanetsyan told News.am in an interview on Monday.

He stated that a prolonged war between Israel and Iran could embolden Azerbaijan and Turkey to take military advantage, pointing to their joint military drills in Nakhichevan that mirror preparations ahead of the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war.

Vanetsyan, a former security chief, warned that a strike on Iran’s gas infrastructure could cut Armenia’s gas supply, and closure of the Meghri Corridor would pose severe logistical challenges.

“Turkey has not abandoned its pan-Turkic vision of 'Great Turan'. Given that ethnic Azerbaijanis live near Iran's northern border, any deepening conflict could risk Turkish-Azerbaijani advancement through Armenia's Syunik Province into Iranian Azerbaijan,” the politician said.

Vanetsyan described the fragmentation of Iran as a direct threat to Armenia and called for a swift end to the war.

“A long all-out war poses an imminent threat to Armenia. A ground invasion seems unlikely for now, but the risks are real. Hopefully, negotiations, already hinted at by Iranian and Israeli officials, will bring a ceasefire soon,” he added.

Vanetsyan criticized the Armenian leadership for its passive stance, arguing that Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan should have immediately contacted Iran’s president to express solidarity and convened Armenia’s Security Council to prepare for various conflict scenarios.

“The Armenian armed forces should have been on high alert. Sadly, this hasn’t happened,” he added.