It is not only in Iran's interest, but also in the interest of Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia, Russia, and Turkey, for Iran to reconnect to the Southern Caucasus railway network through both the Rasht-Astara and Julfa-Nakhichevan routes after three decades
The Jolfa–Nakhichevan railway, constructed 109 years ago, constitutes the cheapest, logistically ...
On October 13, 2025, the Russian International Affairs Council (RIAC) and the Orbeli Center under the Office of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia jointly hosted a roundtable discussion titled “Tests of Partnership: Russian-Armenian Relations in 2025.”
On October 13, 2025, the Russian International Affairs Council (RIAC) and the Orbeli Center under the Office of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia jointly hosted a roundtable discussion titled “Tests of Partnership: ...
... accusations of sponsoring terrorist groups.
Julia Melnikova, Natalia Viakhireva, Gleb Gryzlov:
The Issue of Connectivity in India-Russia Relations — From Eurasia to the Arctic
In practice, this means that SCO summit declarations must give voice to both ... ... Pakistan, if not for one key moment: on the sidelines, Islamabad
signed an agreement
to establish diplomatic relations with Armenia. This development can justifiably be described as a “fundamental shift” in the regional architecture, which
had remained
...
... negotiations with the Republic) and the ongoing political tensions in its relations with Moscow.
For any reset in bilateral cooperation, restoring trust must be the first priority. Trust is the key factor—and the missing element—in contemporary Russian-Armenian relations, without which both sides will continue to view each other’s actions with a degree of skepticism.
Nikolay Silaev
It is important to avoid the illusion that Armenia’s foreign policy course is coherent or strategically well-calibrated....
... and geopolitical interests intersect with those of Iran, leading to complex calculations in Iran’s policies towards it. Iran seeks to maintain its influence in the face of growing Turkish influence in Azerbaijan and increasing Western support for Armenia. Russia also plays a major role in maintaining the regional balance of power, forcing Iran to coordinate with Moscow on many issues
Tehran is currently facing significant challenges in shaping its foreign policy towards its close neighbor, the South Caucasus....
... “containment,” now also
in the Caucasus
.
Third, the formats of alliance and partnership that had existed unchanged for decades are currently modified before our eyes. The post-Karabakh status quo has been “synced up” with a large-scale
crisis
in Russian-Armenian relations, whereas confrontation mounts between Russia and the West just as the Tbilisi-Kiev strategic nexus tends to
weaken
. Besides, we see a certain re-prioritization of Russia’s approaches in the region, which is expressed in the buildup ...
When assessing the current state in Russian-Armenian relations, we must consider the different visions of Yerevan and Moscow
The specifics of Armenian national policy
The fundamental basis of Armenia’s foreign policy, both under the leadership of Kocharyan-Sargsyan and in the Pashinyan era,...
... between the parties, as New Delhi is now preparing to become an observer country of the EAEU in 2024. In this context, Armenia is perceived as a natural extension of the economic union capable of linking the EAEU and India.
Third, India's arms supply to Armenia, Russia's only CSTO and EAEU ally in the region, strengthens Yerevan's military capabilities. This, in turn, helps level out the balance of power in the South Caucasus, reducing the risk of a new escalation, which is in line with Moscow's interests. Given ...
... now a peaceful region, once again.
Sergey Markedonov:
Armenian-Azerbaijani Conflict: Last Chapter or More to Come?
Peace in South Caucasus is what Russia sought for three decades, but it was restored at a price—a temporary ratcheting up of anti-Russian tendencies in Armenia. Yet, it is beyond any doubt a geopolitical and geo-economic gain or dividend in Russia’s foreign policy balance. Now that the task has been accomplished, it is time we summarized the outcomes of the conflict and determined what adjustments ...
... constantly oscillating between three options: direct control from the center, self-determination of the autonomy and the integrity of the AzSSR. As a result, the intra-state conflict turned into an interstate confrontation involving various external actors (Russia, Iran, Turkey, the U.S. and the European Union).
However, the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict had its own logic and dynamics. And it would be wrong to consider it only as one of the factors (albeit an important one) of the Soviet collapse. The appeal as of February 20, 1988 did not arise out of nothing. It was based ...