Armenia’s Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has dismissed recent media reports suggesting dangers to Armenia’s southern Syunik province amid the Iranian-Israeli conflict, warning that such speculation creates “panic, uncertainties, and anxiety” among the public. He called these reports irresponsible and aimed at fueling public fear.
Speaking to reporters in Parliament, Pashinyan confirmed that a recent meeting of Armenia’s Security Council was held in connection with the situation in Iran. He said the council has convened four to six times over the past month and that the absence of official readouts is not unusual. He emphasized that these sessions were not convened due to any threat to Syunik.
Pashinyan also pushed back on criticism from political opponents who warned that Azerbaijan may exploit the Iran-Israel conflict to invade Armenia’s Syunik and open a land corridor to its Nakhichevan exclave, calling such claims “provocative” and “unfounded attempts to stir panic.”
“These kinds of statements create unnecessary concern and panic among the citizens of Armenia,” Pashinyan said.
He also stated that Armenia and Azerbaijan have agreed on the text of a peace treaty. “There will be no new war between Armenia and Azerbaijan; there will be peace,” he asserted.
However, Pashinyan acknowledged that the signing of the treaty has been delayed, in part due to additional conditions set by Azerbaijan. Baku is demanding changes to Armenia’s constitution as a prerequisite for formalizing the agreement and continues to push for an extraterritorial corridor through the Syunik province—the only Armenian region bordering Iran. Just one day after Israeli strikes began targeting Iran, a senior aide to Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev publicly stated that Yerevan must take an “important first step” toward establishing the so-called “Zangezur corridor.”
Iran has firmly rejected any such proposal, warning it would threaten the Iranian-Armenian border. On Tuesday, Iranian Ambassador to Armenia Mehdi Sobhani reiterated that this issue remains a “red line” for Tehran.
Asked about cross-border small arms fire by Azerbaijani forces targeting villages in Syunik and Baku stalling the formal signing of the treaty, Pashinyan said Armenia remains committed to the peace agenda and continues negotiating the timeframe for signing the agreement. He added that efforts are underway to create the conditions necessary to make that possible.
“Indeed, there are threats around Armenia—these threats have always existed—but what’s new is that unprecedented opportunities have been created. Now Armenia has greater capabilities to manage the threats and seize the opportunities,” he said.
Regarding Armenian prisoners of war held in Azerbaijan, Pashinyan added that the government is working on the issue daily, along with other pressing matters.
