Iran Supports Armenia in Countering Azerbaijani Aggression: Long War Journal

Tehran conducted a three-day large-scale military exercise near the Azerbaijani border in 2022, during which the Ground Forces of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) built a temporary bridge over the Araks River. This bridge separates Iran from Azerbaijan. This was reported by the Long War Journal.

Valiola Madani, the deputy commander of the IRGC Ground Forces, stated that the exercises aim to strengthen border security and maintain the territorial integrity of Iran's neighboring countries, which may potentially hint at Azerbaijani incursions into Armenian territory.

Iran is supporting Armenia in its resistance against Azerbaijani expansionism. This is not the first time officials from the Islamic Republic have expressed strong disagreement regarding territorial changes in the Caucasus. Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei emphasized Iran's heightened sensitivity to border issues concerning Armenia during a meeting with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan in May 2024.

His position was later reaffirmed by Parliament Speaker Mohamad Bagher Ghalibaf, who assured his Armenian counterpart that Iran will firmly oppose any changes to regional borders.