Moreover, if Iranian media are to be believed, Raisi explicitly told Pashinyan that Tehran does not approve of communication outside the “3 + 3” format, much less of exercises with foreign partners and “dubious” trips.
Almost simultaneously, an Iranian military delegation headed by Major General Ahadi arrived in Baku to attend the meeting of the Joint Commission on Military Cooperation between the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Talks were held, results were discussed. During their trip, the Iranian General Staff officials visited the Park of Military Trophies in Baku. This is both a political message and a visual demonstration of everything Iran may not have seen from its side of the Araz during the 44-day war.
Of course, such visits are prepared in advance. And Iran has always been willing to smile in Baku’s eyes while cuddling with Armenia at the same time. But this time Armenia has gone too far with simultaneous “cuddles” with the West.
Armenia did not get clear guarantees from the United States, Germany and even its favorite France. But it did seriously mess up its relations with both Moscow and Tehran. Iran is already asking itself: what if it goes beyond joint exercises with the US National Guard and the presence of European observers? What if Armenia begins to offer its territory for the West’s intelligence activities against Iran? What if it comes to military bases? Moreover, Tehran must have drawn conclusions from the fake reports of the “accumulation of Iranian troops on the border with Azerbaijan” in Armenian media. Iran did not really want to find itself in a situation where Armenia would pit it against Azerbaijan. Especially since Iran has already seen that firstly, the tactics of threats and blackmail do not work with Azerbaijan. Secondly, Baku has something to respond with and someone to rely on. Thirdly, and most importantly, Azerbaijan pursues a predictable policy aimed at cooperation primarily with its immediate neighbors, does not drag dubious extra-regional players into the region and, above all, honors its commitments accurately and firmly. Unlike Armenia, it does not try to go back on its word.
As a result, Major General Mohammad Ahadi already says that some forces have been spreading groundless, false information recently, trying to undermine the bonds of friendship and good-neighborly relations between Iran and Azerbaijan. Representatives of the Islamic Republic of Iran deny reports of preparations of exercises near the border and assure in every possible way of their friendship with Azerbaijan.
Needless to say, this is a diplomatic catastrophe for Armenia.
