Concerns That 'Trump's Path' May Serve as a Pretext for U.S. Forces' Presence in the Region: Araqchi

The upcoming visit of Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian to Armenia will focus on ensuring the immutability of the geopolitical map of the South Caucasus.

In an interview with IRNA, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi addressed the goals of the President's visit to Armenia, stating, "Our main concern is that there should be no changes in the geopolitical landscape of the region and that foreign forces do not enter the region." He clarified that by the unacceptability of geopolitical changes, he meant alterations to internationally recognized borders, border shifts, or violations of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the countries in the region.

"We have made it very clear that we will not tolerate such actions. Our policy has always been defined clearly," Araqchi emphasized.

Addressing the declaration signed in Washington under U.S. mediation between Armenia and Azerbaijan, he noted that both Yerevan and Baku have explicitly committed to respecting existing borders and sovereignty. "From this perspective, it seems that our geopolitical concerns have, for the moment, been addressed. But we will closely monitor whether they remain committed to this in the future," he said.

Araqchi also expressed Iran's concerns regarding the United States: "There is a concern that this path could serve as a pretext for the presence of U.S. forces in the region," he stated.

However, according to the Iranian Foreign Minister, Armenian high-ranking officials, including Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, have assured Tehran that U.S. forces or even private American security companies will not enter Armenia due to this path. The Armenian side has assured that they are aware of Iran's red lines and will respect them in the future.

Araqchi noted that these issues will be discussed in detail during Pezeshkian's visit to Armenia.