Iran’s position is that any process to establish peace in the South Caucasus must be based on the existing status quo, and that geopolitical changes are unacceptable to Tehran, Iran’s Ambassador to Armenia Khalil Shirgholami has said.

“Iran’s principled position is to preserve the existing status quo in the South Caucasus, both in terms of territory and the region’s geopolitics,” he said at the 2026 APRI Forum.

“The second point is that we need a new balance in the region, because the discourse about peace is good and useful, but it is not sufficient in itself to establish and maintain peace in the region. If we truly seek real and lasting peace, there needs to be a real balance of power, particularly between the Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Azerbaijan. This is extremely important and significant. And this is precisely what Iran seeks to establish in this region—a new balance of power, which is the real guarantee of lasting and stable peace in the region,” Shirgholami said.

In his view, if there is no balance, the situation will be fragile. According to the envoy, even if the intentions of the parties are positive, that is not enough to establish peace and maintain it.

“We believe that regional dynamics and formats are more stable and effective for lasting peace, stability and development in the region. Of course, the legitimate interests of other powers that are not located in this region are acceptable and understandable. They have certain legitimate interests, and that is quite natural, but at the same time, if there is an attempt to turn this region into an arena of negative competition or conflict, it will not have a positive impact on the region. In the long term, it will have serious consequences, undermining the stability and development of this very region,” the ambassador noted.

Shirgholami assured that the Iranian side supports ideas aimed at connectivity.

“We have welcomed Prime Minister Pashinyan’s idea and program of the ‘Crossroads of Peace.’ We believe that this crossroads has different directions—east-west, west-east, north-south, south-north. And if there are programs aimed at connectivity, then every opportunity and potential must be used and put into practice,” the diplomat said.

Speaking about the TRIPP project, Shirgholami said that if it meets certain preconditions, it will be positive for development and peace in the region.

“At the same time, we believe that Armenia also has other great potential to serve as a connecting link between the Persian Gulf, the Indian Ocean and the wider region, and that potential should also be used and put into practice. Therefore, we support the ideas of the ‘Crossroads of Peace’ and connectivity, provided that certain conditions or preconditions are met,” the Ambassador said.

Addressing Armenia-Iran relations, Shirgholami noted that in this context it is very important for the two important traditional partners to be able to navigate the new directions of Armenia’s foreign policy. According to him, this concerns Armenia’s foreign policy oriented toward the West and its rapprochement with the European Union and the United States, while at the same time maintaining the same level of partnership between Iran and Armenia.

“This is the most important challenge, but there are also many opportunities within it. We believe that, at least with the European Union and European countries, we have many commonalities related to approaches to maintaining peace and stability in this region, as well as between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Republic of Armenia. Although at first glance it seems that this is a challenge for Iran and Armenia that must be overcome, at the same time, there are also many opportunities. We believe that based on the deep mutual trust between the leaders of Armenia and Iran, we will be able to overcome this challenge and not only maintain the current level of cooperation but also raise it,” Shirgholami said.

He said that the Iranian side is thinking and planning toward establishing a strategic partnership with Armenia and putting that partnership on an institutional footing in the future.

“We understand Armenia’s geopolitical situation. Armenia, being landlocked, has historically faced many problems and obstacles in terms of being open to the world, and it needs multilayered or different mechanisms and routes to establish connections with the world and different regions, as well as to fully utilize Armenia’s role as a connecting hub. Therefore, we understand the situation and this strategic vision of Armenian foreign policy. As for the TRIPP project, based on Iran’s fundamental approach regarding the need to preserve the status quo in the region, which I already mentioned, we believe that during the implementation of this project, no harm should be done to the territorial integrity and national sovereignty of the Republic of Armenia,” the diplomat said.

He added that the Republic of Azerbaijan and its leaders continue to speak very clearly and openly about the so-called “Zangezur corridor,” while the Iranian side, according to the ambassador, is equally clear in expressing the position that any geopolitical change or any action that would harm the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the Republic of Armenia cannot be tolerated.

“This is the first precondition. Second, a fundamentally important point is that no military presence of the United States can be tolerated in the region. This approach is based on the fact that the United States’ hostile attitude toward the Iranian people has been repeatedly proven, including recently. Therefore, based on these two preconditions—the circumstances that no harm should be done to the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the Republic of Armenia and that there should be no U.S. security or military presence within the country’s borders—we have no reason to oppose this project if it positively contributes to the development and well-being of the Armenian people,” the Ambassador of Iran said.

The 2026 APRI Forum, titled “Sketching the Architecture of Change” and organized by the APRI Armenia think tank, has kicked off in Yerevan, bringing together politicians, diplomats, policymakers, and representatives of the business community and civil society.

During the three-day event, issues of paramount importance to Armenia will be discussed, including regional security and foreign policy, connectivity, economic security, digital sovereignty, and the development of institutional capacities.

In her opening remarks, Anahide Pilibossian, Vice President for Strategy and Development at APRI Armenia, noted that the forum’s title has become a guiding principle for all their activities.

“What remains for us is to best outline the architecture of change and strive to shape its most sensible directions, while at the same time accepting and assessing the situation in which we find ourselves at a given moment. Thus, we will be stronger, better prepared and more resilient in the face of any future development. We have developed a program that we present with great enthusiasm and pride, hoping that you will leave the conference with clearer ideas and preliminary outlines of actions about what we can do as individuals, as an institution, and even as a nation, to ensure safe and sustainable progress. At the same time, we hope that throughout the successive sessions of the conference, participants will establish strong and lasting connections,” Pilibossian said.

She added that today everyone can add one link to the chain of progress and together reach a new milestone.

“Perfection does not exist; there is only a process of creation. Without work, there is no progress. We often have to transform reality by implementing a one-hundred-percent improvement, which leads to comprehensive change for the better. When everything falls apart, we put the pieces back together by applying the principle of ‘kintsugi.’ It is Japanese broken pottery that is restored with gold, and here before you is the Armenian interpretation of ‘kintsugi.’ Giving up is not part of our nature; if it were, we would have disappeared long ago. We create values that withstand the test of time, overcoming eras of instability,” Pilibossian noted.

According to her, the staff of APRI Armenia are inspired by the rules that the world’s leading think tanks have used to shape their dialogues. APRI Armenia strives to continuously make progress and seek new solutions to the problems of the day.

The current situation is very important and pivotal for Iran in terms of initiating a process to establish new security arrangements in the region. The Iranian side is in contact with its neighbors and is discussing with them very directly the issue of future security mechanisms in the region, Alireza Khoda Gholipour, Director General of Iran’s Institute for Political and International Studies, said at the 2026 APRI Forum in Yerevan. 

“Following the illegal attack and aggression against Iran, which has been ongoing for 16 months, we have tried not only to defend ourselves but also to prevent similar acts of aggression against Iran from recurring in the future. However, overall, this aggression against Iran has had not only a destructive but also a transformative and instructive significance for Iran, the region, and the United States. Today, many perceptions and understandings regarding Iran and the region are changing. For our neighbors, this has been an instructive lesson in that it is impossible to entrust one’s own security to external powers; greater attention must be paid to regional agency and the role of regional actors,” Gholipour said.

According to him, the Iranian side is convinced that the “moment of truth” has arrived in the region, and therefore everyone must take responsibility for everything they have done in the region over the decades.

“We believe that the present moment can serve as a starting point for regional actors to assume a constructive role. Iran is very active in the South Caucasus and, thanks to its ‘red lines’ policy, managed to prevent a number of destructive projects in the region, particularly the implementation of the so-called ‘Zangezur corridor.’ In fact, we have always viewed the South Caucasus and our neighbors in the northern part of Iran as a very important direction and attached great importance to our relations,” Gholipour said.

In his view, there has been a certain misunderstanding for years that the South Caucasus is some kind of intermediate area within the region, which, he argued, is not the right approach.

“Now everyone realizes that it is very important for Iran, and the significance of bilateral relations with the South Caucasus, as well as with Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia, has increased for Iranian decision-makers and policymakers. This does not mean that this direction was not important for Iran before, but its importance has increased following the latest aggression against Iran. This means that Iran is now paying greater attention to Central Asia and the South Caucasus. Moreover, this is not solely due to the latest aggression against Iran: the process began several years ago, following the Second Karabakh War and its consequences. This concerns, in particular, the decline in Russia’s influence due to its involvement in Ukraine, the increase in Türkiye’s influence, as well as greater Western involvement in the region. Therefore, it is very important to understand all these regional developments in order to better understand Iran’s policy toward the South Caucasus,” Gholipour concluded.

The 2026 APRI Forum, which kicked off in Yerevan on September 23, is titled “Sketching the Architecture of Change.” The forum brings together politicians, diplomats, and representatives of the business community and civil society from Armenia and abroad.

Armenian-Russian relations are in the process of transitioning to a new model, former Director General of the Russian International Affairs Council Andrey Kortunov told Armenpress, adding that it is still too early to say what form this model will take.

However, he added, it is clear that a page has been turned in bilateral relations, and the sides are trying to start a new chapter in those relations.

Kortunov is among the participants of the 2026 APRI Forum in Yerevan.

“The process is difficult and painful for both Yerevan and Moscow. Of course, we want to hope that the process will not lead to a disruption of the traditional good-neighborly relations not only between the two countries, but also between the two societies. Russian President Vladimir Putin has already hinted at a civilized divorce. Armenia is now changing its strategic priorities and opening up to other countries and regions, choosing the European perspective. This undoubtedly creates problems in relations between Moscow and Yerevan, as well as in Armenia’s interaction with the structures of which Armenia is still a member,” Kortunov said.

In his view, something will most likely need to change here, and the relationship will need to be transformed in some way, because, according to the expert, the relationship is becoming more pragmatic, focused on business and economic ties. At the same time, the fact that there are people in Armenia with pro-Russian sentiments and that Russia has a fairly large and influential Armenian diaspora gives grounds to say that Armenia is perceived in Russia as a country with historical, cultural and religious commonalities.

“Certainly, one can talk at length about the factors that bring the two countries and peoples closer together and hope that all this will be preserved to some extent and influence the development of future relations. Political strategies and priorities can change. Around two decades ago, our partners in Tbilisi spoke about Georgia’s European perspective, whereas today something has changed in their outlook. Perhaps certain expectations have not been met, but that does not mean that Georgia is abandoning its European path. It is simply that the aforementioned perspective is no longer perceived in the same way as it was 20 years ago. Perhaps changes will also take place in Armenia that will allow Armenian society to assess European integration more realistically, especially since this process will most likely be quite lengthy,” Kortunov elaborated.

He said he believes that, on the other hand, Russia will remain a partner and, if circumstances develop favorably, also a strategic partner. According to the expert, much will depend on what Russia, in turn, offers Armenia in the next stage of cooperation, how much the scope of economic interaction expands, how small and medium-sized businesses become involved in this process, and what kind of cooperation there will be in IT and other sectors.

Speaking about the TRIPP project, Kortunov noted that, as history has shown, many ideas put forward by US President Donald Trump’s administration, which may be quite good and forward-looking, are not fully implemented in the form of concrete projects.

“We still do not know much about TRIPP; we do not know how it will develop and be implemented. Yes, agreements have been signed, but many details still need to be clarified. We hope that these changing transport and logistics infrastructures in the South Caucasus will take into account the interests of all three South Caucasus states, as well as those of their immediate neighbors—Russia, Iran and Türkiye. It may not be easy to reconcile the interests of all sides, but nevertheless, that is what we should strive for,” Kortunov concluded.

The peace process between Armenia and Azerbaijan has already delivered significant results and achievements in ways that would have been unimaginable several years ago.

Vasif Huseynov, an Azerbaijani expert and head of a department at the Center of Analysis of International Relations and Multiculturalism, expressed this view while addressing the APRI Forum 2026 conference online.

“It may seem that the cycle of escalation and tension is permanent, but we have greater grounds for optimism about the ongoing peace and normalisation process. This is a process that has already delivered very significant results and achievements in ways that would have been unimaginable several years ago,” Huseynov said, adding that he believed this was part of a broader positive picture and that further developments would follow in the near future.

“We have already achieved a great deal. Today, goods can be exported from Azerbaijan to Armenia, as well as from other countries to Armenia through Azerbaijani territory, and only recently we heard that Armenia is preparing to export certain goods to Azerbaijan. I think this is something that should be appreciated and welcomed.

“As for the border process and discussions, as well as the opening of the border between our countries, I think the expectations are quite understandable because, from Azerbaijan’s perspective, it is quite clear that we cannot sign a peace treaty with a country whose constitution contains territorial claims against us,” the Azerbaijani expert said, reiterating the position and rhetoric of his country’s political leadership.

Huseynov recalled that Türkiye is Azerbaijan’s number one ally and, naturally, shares the aforementioned understanding. According to him, this is precisely why it is clear that the peace process will continue and the borders will open when “Armenia removes territorial claims from its Constitution”.

“President Aliyev has repeatedly stated that Azerbaijan is ready to sign the peace treaty the day after Armenia changes its Constitution. Signing the peace treaty would mean establishing diplomatic relations and opening the borders. In other words, the process will proceed step by step.

“This is not a circular process, but a linear one that we are carrying out step by step. Look at how many steps we have taken over the past year since the Washington summit. Those steps are continuing, and there will be more. Therefore, so far, I have not seen any setback that could be described as a circular process,” Huseynov said.

Turning to the TRIPP project, the Azerbaijani expert stressed its regional significance. He said Azerbaijan was interested in peace and stability in the South Caucasus and the wider region. Therefore, according to Huseynov, the successful implementation of the peace process remains a priority for Baku.

As one of its priorities for the next five years, Armenia should also seek to do more through parliamentary diplomacy to normalise relations with neighbouring countries in the region.

Sargis Khandanyan, Chair of the Armenian National Assembly Standing Committee on Foreign Relations, expressed this view at the APRI Forum 2026.

“We cooperate quite closely with two of our neighbours in this format, but in the context of the peace and normalisation processes, the time has come to establish interparliamentary ties with Azerbaijan and Türkiye, which would be very logical. As part of our diversification policy, we should seek to broaden the scope of parliamentary diplomacy.

“In previous years, we have worked very actively with European and North American countries, but there remains considerable untapped potential for cooperation, particularly with Central Asian and Gulf countries. Concrete steps are already being taken to address this. The logic of our relations will be shaped precisely by a diversified and balanced foreign policy,” Khandanyan said.

He said Armenia’s geographical position offered opportunities for active cooperation and for the country to be at the centre of various logistics and trade chains.

“We should not view the preservation of our sovereignty through the prism of conflicting interests of others, but should instead seek, as far as possible, to avoid becoming a point where those interests clash. A balanced foreign policy means not having exclusive relations with only one geopolitical centre, but maintaining balanced ties with as many centres as possible.

“From the perspective of preserving our sovereignty, building normal relations with the countries of the region is very important, because one of the most important guarantees of preserving sovereignty is maintaining peace. We need to continue the peace process patiently and avoid tensions with all our neighbours so that external powers cannot take advantage of those tensions,” Khandanyan said.

He stressed that Armenia was indeed moving closer to the West – Europe and the United States – and was thereby diversifying its relations in different directions. According to Khandanyan, deepening relations with the EU is also a matter of Armenia’s domestic agenda because the country’s European aspirations and the process of joining the EU are, first and foremost, a process that contributes to the domestic reform agenda.

Khandanyan said diversification was important in terms of access to foreign markets, energy cooperation and certain forms of security cooperation, but stressed that the principle of balance should always be kept in mind.

“The Iran-US conflict in our neighbourhood cannot in any way be in Armenia’s interests and cannot be beneficial to the region as a whole. We therefore hope that the conflict will be resolved through peaceful diplomatic means in the near future.

“Our friendly relations with Iran are very important for Armenia, and there is an intention on both sides to elevate them to a strategic level, although the quality and nature of the relationship are already strategic in themselves. The relevant document will be signed in the near future. Armenia does not intend to develop relations with any country at the expense of other partner states,” the MP said.

Turning to relations between Armenia and Russia, Khandanyan said they needed to be transformed, given that, through inertia and circumstances, they had largely been built primarily around security cooperation.

“But events have taken place which have demonstrated that Russia cannot be the guarantor of Armenia’s security. The conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan has ended and peace has been established, so these circumstances must be taken into account and the nature of Armenian-Russian relations brought into line with the new reality.

“This does not mean that relations between Armenia and Russia should be severed. On the contrary, bilateral relations have considerable potential for development. We will seek to resolve the problems that have arisen on both sides through negotiations in a calm atmosphere.

“If the TRIPP project remains the only functioning programme for unblocking infrastructure, we will have a problem. Armenia’s railways must therefore, in our case, be adapted to connect with the outside world,” Khandanyan said.

According to him, both the opportunities and risks associated with the TRIPP project should be assessed. However, he described the risks being raised as not so much risks as political perceptions.

“The first was the risk related to Armenia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, but the TRIPP formula has already resolved that issue. The project will be implemented within the principles of preserving Armenia’s sovereignty, jurisdiction and territorial integrity.

“During the next month, Armenia and the United States will also sign the main framework agreement on TRIPP, which will be ratified by the National Assembly. The agreement contains all the answers regarding political perceptions. TRIPP should not be the only exclusive project that unblocks Armenia,” said the Chair of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Foreign Relations.

Finally, addressing the process of normalising Armenian-Turkish relations, Khandanyan said the Armenian side was seeking to keep the Armenia-Türkiye normalisation process exclusively within the bilateral agenda, despite the difficulties that arise.

“I do not think the process is at an impasse; nevertheless, decisions are being made. We do not see any obstacle preventing relations between the two sides from being fully normalised. Türkiye should have opened its border with Armenia and established diplomatic relations long ago.

“Filled with faith and hope, we will continue working in this direction, which occupies an important place in our diversification policy,” Khandanyan concluded.

Türkiye has continued to advance the process of normalising relations with Armenia, as evidenced by the special representatives, air links, procedures to facilitate the visa regime for official passport holders, trade documents, the railway working group and Washington’s support for the political process.

Hazel Çağan Elbir, a Turkish analyst and expert at the Center for Eurasian Studies, expressed this view online during the APRI Forum 2026 conference.

“Ankara did not wait for perfect trust before opening channels of communication; it built trust by acting. We can say that we have reached a crucial milestone. The South Caucasus has, in fact, seized a unique moment – one that will be significant for generations and perhaps one of the most important periods for the countries of the region.

“The Armenia-Azerbaijan border is taking shape, the peace process has been initiated and set in motion, moving from design to implementation, the transportation of energy resources and cargo has resumed, and Turkish flights to Yerevan have also been planned,” Elbir said.

She added that for a long time there had been no significant developments between Armenia and Türkiye or between Armenia and Azerbaijan, and that this essentially presented an opportunity to view the future as an era of possibilities. According to the analyst, the Armenian Government’s programme, which establishes the establishment of diplomatic relations with Türkiye as official policy, represents accumulated political capital.

“I believe that by taking steps towards the future and positive development among our three countries, there will be a good future for all of us. Therefore, the persistent question is no longer whether Türkiye will deliver results, but whether Armenia will take measures that demonstrate trust towards Azerbaijan and Türkiye,” the Turkish analyst said.

She recalled that the Turkish side maintains the presence of its special envoy in the region, while Armenia currently has no active representative. Armenia’s former representative and envoy for relations with Türkiye, Ruben Rubinyan, is now President of the National Assembly.

“We support the normalisation process, as demonstrated by the work of our representative Serdar Kılıç. Incidentally, on every occasion he refers to the former representative as his counterpart. Türkiye does not seek to be the leading or sole country trying to strengthen its position and influence in the region. Our approach is based on normalising relations and ensuring prosperity and stability,” Elbir said.

She supports the view that there should be no other actors from outside the region.

“External actors should not try to persuade Türkiye to set aside its partner, Azerbaijan. Calling for the Turkish-Armenian border to be opened while disregarding Azerbaijan’s position demonstrates a misunderstanding of both alliance politics and the current situation,” Elbir concluded.

The APRI Forum 2026, which began in Yerevan on September 23, is being held under the theme “Sketching the Architecture of Change”. Politicians, diplomats, representatives of the business community and civil society from Armenia and abroad are taking part in the forum.

During the three-day event, participants will discuss key issues for Armenia, including regional security and foreign policy, connectivity, economic security, digital sovereignty and the development of institutional capacities.

Digitec, one of Armenia’s major annual technology events, will bring together a larger and more representative group of participants this year.

Armen Kocharyan, President of the Union of Advanced Technology Enterprises (UATE), the organizer of the event, noted that their main goal and dream is to make Armenia a high-tech country creating unprecedented value.

“When Digitec was created in 2005, Armenia was taking its first steps in the high-tech sector. During this time, we have come a long way and have become a country that not only uses but also creates technologies,” he said at a press conference.

“Digitec will be much bigger this year because we already have companies creating technologies that have global demand. This is a platform where we must showcase all of this. For 21 years now, we have seen how Digitec brings the entire community together, becoming a platform where everyone presents the work they have done and, through communication, develops new ideas, new businesses, and new cooperation. That is our main path to becoming a technological country,” he said.

According to Armen Kocharyan, Digitec gives Armenia an opportunity to present itself: organizing a major technology exhibition testifies to the presence of a major technology sector in the country. Their goal is to contribute to increasing its public visibility.

“Today, we have reached a point where this technology event has gone beyond the country’s borders, and this year, already with international funding and with the support of NVIDIA and Firebird, it has grown even further,” he emphasized.

The UATE president also highlighted the fact that Digitec contributes to ensuring the continuity of the sector’s development by educating and training the new generation.

Armenia’s Minister of High-Tech Industry and Artificial Intelligence Davit Tadevosyan has praised the agenda of the upcoming Digitec 2026 technology exhibition, which will be held under the motto “World’s New AI Hub,” for covering the entire spectrum of the artificial intelligence sector.

Tadevosyan spoke at a press conference dedicated to the event, which will take place on November 20-22.

“Digitec reflects the model that we would like all organizations in Armenia’s artificial intelligence sector to follow. In other words, an idea born from a modest concept should reach a status where its impact, significance, and role clearly extend beyond Armenia’s borders. We welcome and are also excited about the event’s title. We are also glad that the Digitec agenda features not just one component of the AI sector, but seemingly the entire spectrum, from computing resources and energy to the creation and design of high-value-added products,” he said.

The minister emphasized that the success and development of Armenia’s technology sector depend on effective cooperation between the state and private companies, noting that Digitec is a vivid manifestation of such cooperation.

It was noted that Digitec 2025 recorded simply excellent results, with more than 30,000 participants and over 200 organizations from around 30 countries.

Digitec 2026, an international technology exhibition scheduled to take place in Armenia in November, will be accompanied by a major conference and a series of meetings and discussions involving executives and representatives of globally renowned companies.

Edita Ghazaryan, Executive Director of the Union of Advanced Technology Enterprises (UATE), announced the details at a press conference on September 23.

“This year, we will have a larger international conference. There will also be technical workshops and discussions at various levels. Digitec will host the international OpenTalks.AI community this year. It is a community of highly skilled specialists and engineers, and we will dedicate one of our halls to its representatives for an entire day.

“We will also have workshops and specially targeted talks featuring representatives from the OpenAI, Mozilla and NVIDIA teams,” Ghazaryan said.

The event will also feature a large startup exhibition, including a dedicated startup track, with around 70 startups expected to take part.

B2B meetings are also planned, bringing together businesspeople and members of delegations from different countries. In this section, organisers will use a dedicated app to identify participants and seek to facilitate connections between them with the help of various artificial intelligence tools.

A national robotics competition involving around 400 children will also be held as part of the exhibition.

On November 22, the 33rd anniversary of the introduction of the Armenian dram, a panel discussion with representatives of the Central Bank of Armenia will be held on the main stage.

Of the 150 speakers expected at Digitec, around 80 have already confirmed their participation.

Ghazaryan also said that Kazakhstan’s Deputy Prime Minister, as well as ministers responsible for the high-tech sector from Georgia, Uzbekistan and Bulgaria, had expressed an interest in attending the exhibition.

“We are positioning Armenia as the region’s leading country in artificial intelligence and Digitec as the best event,” she said.

Digitec 2026 will take place at the Meridian Centre in Yerevan from November 20 to 22, bringing together leading technology professionals, entrepreneurs, investors and public-sector representatives from the United States, Europe, the Gulf states and Central Asia.

The exhibition will be held under the theme “The World’s New AI Hub”.