Iranian researcher calls for stronger defense ties with Armenia to counter possible threats

Israel could try to encourage Azerbaijan and Turkey to attack Armenia and strip Iran of its common border with Armenia by occupying Syunik in case of facing a danger to its very existence, according to an Iranian researcher.

The only scenario of an Azeri aggression against Armenia at this phase, according to South Caucasus expert Ehsan Movahedian, would be in the event of Israel facing mounting pressure from Iranian airstrikes and concluding that its existence is threatened.

Israel launched what it calls Operation Rising Lion against Iran in the early hours of Friday, calling it a preemptive strike designed to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons. Iran has denied plans to develop such weapons. Tehran retaliated by launching counterstrikes on Israel.

"If Israel is under great pressure due to the pressure of deadly Iranian attacks and sees its existence in danger, it is likely to encourage Baku and Turkey to attack southern Armenia to occupy Syunik and geopolitically surround Iran, so that it can prepare for harassing and limited ground attacks against Iran in the next stage. Israel has a deep military, security, and intelligence presence in Baku, and two military airports in Zangilan and Fuzuli meet Israel's logistical needs for attacking Iran. Therefore, a serious danger threatens Armenia and Iran, and the two countries must be prepared to confront the threats of Baku and Turkey," international relations expert and South Caucasus expert at the Tehran ATU University Ehsan Movahedian told Armenpress.

He added that Armenia and Iran ought to expand their military, intelligence and defense cooperation to counter such a possible attack.

Earlier in March, Armenia and Azerbaijan agreed to the terms of the peace treaty. Armenia announced readiness to sign the peace agreement as soon as possible, but Azerbaijan has stalled the process. Armenian officials have numerously expressed readiness to sign the peace treaty as soon as possible.

Last week, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said that the peace process with Azerbaijan is on the right track and expressed certainty of a successful outcome.

On June 18, authorities said Pashinyan would travel to Turkey on Friday to meet President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.