Iranian expert lauds Armenian-Azerbaijani accords for regional peace

An Iranian expert on South Caucasus affairs, Ehsan Movahedian, has described the initialing of the Armenian-Azerbaijani peace treaty as a positive development for Iran, as it helps establish peace in the Caucasus region and brings new prospects for economic cooperation.

In an interview with Armenpress, Movahedian, who holds a Ph.D. in International Relations from ATU University in Tehran, argued, however, that the process could have been “more effective” if Iran or any of Armenia’s other neighbors had served as mediator, since Iran borders both countries and is “truly” interested in regional peace.

He made the remarks when asked about the significance of the U.S.-brokered Armenian-Azerbaijani peace agreement, initialed on August 8 in Washington, D.C.

“There are suspicions about the intentions of the United States. This country is mainly seeking to reduce the influence of Russia and Iran in the region. [U.S. President] Donald Trump signed the peace document as a witness, not as a party to the agreement,” the Iranian expert said.

Movahedian noted positively that the Washington accords emphasize Armenia’s territorial integrity and its preservation.

According to the expert, some Iranian analysts are concerned that the presence of American enterprises near Iran’s borders could lead to a U.S. security presence and disrupt the movement of Iranian citizens and goods.

The Armenian government has numerously said that it maintains good neighborly relations with Iran and has rejected the claims about negative consequences in relation to TRIPP. 

Armenia and Azerbaijan signed a U.S.-brokered joint declaration and initialed a peace agreement on August 8, 2025, in Washington, D.C.

The agreement envisions the development of the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP) — a connectivity project in Armenia expected to unlock strategic economic opportunities, promote infrastructure investment, and enhance regional connectivity. TRIPP is part of the Crossroads of Peace initiative.

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has said that his administration is working with the United States on the detailed development of the TRIPP project.