Armenia assumes full control of checkpoint on border with Iran

As of today, border control at the Agarak checkpoint on the Armenia-Iran state border will be carried out exclusively by the Border Guard Forces of Armenia, marking a significant shift in the country’s security operations.

This announcement was made by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on his official Facebook page, where he revealed that the Border Guard Forces of the Russian Federation had previously been responsible for overseeing this section of the border since Armenia's independence, Caliber.Az reports.

"Starting today, the responsibility for border control at the Agarak checkpoint will be in the hands of the Border Guard Forces of Armenia," Pashinyan stated. He expressed his gratitude to the Russian Border Guard Forces, acknowledging their service. "I would like to thank the staff of the Border Guard Forces of the Russian Federation for their service. And to our border guards, who have taken on this responsibility starting today, I wish success and a prosperous service," he added.

The decision follows an agreement between Prime Minister Pashinyan and Russian President Vladimir Putin during their talks in Moscow in October. The accord, which came just over two months after Russian forces withdrew from Yerevan's Zvartnots international airport, reflects a broader shift in Armenia’s security policies amid strained relations with Moscow. Pashinyan’s government had previously demanded the departure of Russian forces from certain areas, including the airport, in March.

In another related agreement announced in October, Armenian officials revealed that, starting from 2025, Armenian border guards will join their Russian counterparts in protecting Armenia’s borders with Iran and Türkiye. However, Armenian officials emphasized that no plans have been made to remove Russian forces entirely from these duties. Russian personnel have long been stationed at these borders as part of the strong military ties between the two nations.

By Vugar Khalilov