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Defense minister: Iran pushes back against geopolitical changes, foreign meddling in region
Iran’s Defense Minister Brigadier General Aziz Nasirzadeh reaffirmed at a high-level meeting with his Armenian counterpart, Suren Papikyan, on Tuesday the Islamic Republic’s staunch opposition to any foreign intervention and underscored its unwavering commitment to safeguarding national sovereignty.
The two officials also weighed plans to promote cooperation between Tehran and Yerevan, discussing avenues to strengthen bilateral defense cooperation and addressing shared concerns about regional security.
Nasirzadeh described Iran-Armenia relations as “deep, historical, and strategically significant,” while expressing appreciation for Armenia’s condemnation of US and Israeli aggressions against the Islamic Republic.
Reiterating Tehran’s long-standing security doctrine, the defense minister warned that Iran rejects any attempt to disturb the regional geopolitical balance.
“The Islamic Republic of Iran opposes any disruption of the regional geopolitical order,” he said, stressing that lasting stability can only be achieved through cooperation among neighboring states.
“External powers, whose interventions are driven by their own interests, pose a direct threat to regional stability.”
He also underscored the centrality of territorial integrity in Iran’s security posture.
“Iran will not tolerate any encroachment that jeopardizes the sovereignty of regional nations. While Iran does not seek conflict, it will respond decisively should war be imposed upon it.”
Reaffirming the importance of historical ties between the two countries, Papikyan stressed that Yerevan views stability in its southern neighbor as a strategic necessity.
“Armenia will never be a source of threat to its historical neighbor,” he said. “A stable Iran is fundamental to regional security.”
The meeting comes amid a significant US military buildup across the region, including the deployment of carrier strike groups and advanced aircraft, a posture Iran has denounced as provocative amid the resumption of talks over its peaceful nuclear program.
During a visit to Yerevan in May 2025, the Iranian defense minister met with Secretary of the Security Council of Armenia Armen Grigoryan, highlighting the geopolitical and strategic position of Iran and Armenia in the region.
Nasirzadeh announced at the time that the two neighbors can complement each other in a number of sectors and contribute to one another’s progress and development, stating that sustainable peace in the Caucasus will pave the way for broader regional cooperation and development.