Ambassador: Russia seeks to boost regional ties through Armenia-Iran partnership

Russian Ambassador to Armenia Sergey Kopyrkin has proposed to intensify trilateral cooperation among Russia, Armenia, and Iran by focusing on joint economic and transport initiatives, foreign policy alignment, and humanitarian collaboration.

He noted that the upcoming sessions of the 3+3 regional consultative platform are set to take place in Yerevan and Baku, following a rotational format to be determined by mutual agreement among participating countries, Caliber.Az reports, citing Armenian media.

Kopyrkin outlined Moscow’s continued efforts to promote regional stability through inclusive diplomatic engagement in the South Caucasus.

The ambassador highlighted that cooperation among Russia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan at the highest levels between 2020 and 2022 laid the groundwork for a series of joint declarations. He pointed to the formation of a trilateral working group in January 2021—co-chaired by the deputy prime ministers of the three nations—which aims to unblock economic and transport links across the region. 

“Russia has repeatedly emphasised that the destiny of the South Caucasus must be shaped by the regional countries and their immediate neighbours,” Kopyrkin stated. “The path to stability and prosperity lies in inclusive dialogue, finding mutually acceptable solutions, and avoiding external geopolitical interference.” 

The 3+3 platform, initially proposed by Moscow, includes Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia on one side, and Russia, Iran, and Türkiye on the other. While Georgia has so far refrained from participating, Kopyrkin underscored that the platform remains open to Tbilisi’s future involvement. 

Looking ahead, Kopyrkin suggested that with the right conditions, the scope of discussions within the 3+3 framework could expand to include regional security. He emphasised that any such initiatives should be seen as complementary to existing bilateral agreements and regional mechanisms, not as a replacement.

The recent session of the “3+3” platform with Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan was held in Istanbul, Türkiye in October 2024.

Kopyrkin also warned of deliberate attempts to create friction between Yerevan and Moscow, accusing external actors of using political manipulation, disinformation, and false narratives to weaken the alliance.

He stated, “The forces behind these actions are well known—just as their obsession with achieving a ‘strategic defeat’ for Russia is clear. We trust in the wisdom of the Armenian people, who can distinguish between true friends and adversaries.”

The ambassador described Armenia as a close ally and a strategic economic partner for Russia in the South Caucasus, stressing the need to strengthen and modernize bilateral ties to match rapidly shifting geopolitical dynamics. 

“Russia-Armenia relations are undergoing a phase of maturity. It’s a complex process, but the key point is that both Moscow and Yerevan aim to resolve issues through partnership and trust-based dialogue across all levels,” Kopyrkin said. 

He added that the leaderships of both countries maintain open lines of communication and meet regularly, noting that Federation Council Speaker Valentina Matviyenko is scheduled to visit Yerevan in early June.

Kopyrkin reaffirmed Moscow’s unwavering commitment to its alliance with Armenia and to fulfilling its defense obligations both on a bilateral basis and within the Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO).

By Naila Huseynova