Daijiworld Media Network - Tehran

Tehran, Aug 16: Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian will embark on a two-day visit to Armenia and Belarus starting Monday evening, with the focus on strengthening bilateral trade ties and signing cooperation agreements, according to Presidential Advisor Mehdi Sanaei.

Originally scheduled for late June, the visits come at a sensitive time in the South Caucasus, following the recent peace agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the long-disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region.

As part of that deal, a new transit corridor across southern Armenia—to be developed exclusively by the United States—has raised concerns in Tehran. Iran has consistently opposed the involvement of external powers in the region and warned against alterations to historical borders or regional geopolitics.

Ahead of the tour, Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi held separate meetings with senior Russian and Armenian officials to discuss recent developments. In talks with Russia’s envoy Igor Khovaev and Armenia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Vahan Kostanyan, Araghchi reiterated Iran’s firm stance on:

• Supporting peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan
• Resolving regional issues without foreign interference
• Respecting sovereignty and territorial integrity in transit route agreements

He also emphasized that no peace plan or transport project should trigger geopolitical shifts or disrupt regional stability.

Both Russian and Iranian officials stressed the need for ongoing consultation and cooperation to protect their shared interests in the Caucasus.

President Pezeshkian’s trip will likely serve as a diplomatic push to reaffirm Iran’s regional position and economic interests as the balance of power continues to shift in the South Caucasus.