Armenia urgently needs a new backer Who will become a source of hope for Yerevan?

As is known, many Armenians perceived new tension between Iran and Azerbaijan with enthusiasm, saying Azerbaijanis deserve it. Armenian experts are very vocal about it, seeing it as a good chance to show off their "competence".

Thus, Armenian Iranist Garik Misakyan decided to take advantage of the situation to shine a light on Armenian readers with his stunning analysis. Misakyan began with a trivial idea that "Israel's and Türkiye's presence on the territory of Azerbaijan played a significant role in strengthening the confrontation between the two neighbouring countries".

Analyzing the situation, he suddenly recalled another narrative that Tehran did not hide its resentment at Baku's constant reminders of the Zangazur corridor. In general, the Armenian orientalist did not reveal anything new here too. But this is quite enough to light a fire of hope in the hearts of the Armenian public. But the Iranian expert went further and highlighted one "significant trend in Iranian policy".

"After the protests and Azerbaijan's simultaneous attempts to play the ethnic, Turkic card in this context, a nationalist wing has strengthened in Iran, taking a more uncompromising stance towards its northern neighbour. In parallel, the Iranian political establishment is growing in its support for an alliance with Armenia. Tehran increasingly views Yerevan as its sole ally in the South Caucasus. The military sphere is considered an important component of this cooperation. Moreover, Iran is the only country, which openly opposes to Zangazur corridor, and is ready to prevent the implementation of such a plan by all means," Misakyan hurries to reassure his fellow countrymen.

After Azerbaijan's victory in the Patriotic War Tehran has repeatedly made statements regarding the Zangazur corridor repeating the thesis about the "inviolability of territorial integrity of countries of the region and inviolability of Iranian-Armenian border" at different official levels. However, it did not go beyond statements. Despite its sometimes too-aggressive rhetoric, Iran realizes that, unlike Yerevan, it will not be able to impose its policies on Baku. On the other hand, the clerics use Armenia as they wish, particularly as a geopolitical "buffer" to put pressure on Baku. But the country, which has always been a bargaining chip in the hands of regional powers, is used to it. Misakyan regards even this fact as a positive opportunity for Armenians.

"For Armenia, this is a definite window of opportunity, as its main strategic ally, Russia, is now busy with SMO (Special Military Operation) in Ukraine, and the resulting gap could to some extent be filled by Iran, especially as relations between Tehran and Moscow have seen unprecedented rapprochement in recent months. The deepening of cooperation with Armenia serves as one of the tools for Iran to exert pressure on Azerbaijan. Of course, at the same time, 'hybrid' methods of pressure have not been abandoned. Iran will rely on ethnic, religious, and other factors to combat Azerbaijan," the "expert" on the East said with enthusiasm.

Meanwhile, the Armenian Iranist's analytical calculations are meant only to meet revanchists' ego and have nothing to do with the actual state of affairs. In addition, although Azerbaijan shows tolerance to clearly hostile outbursts of the Iranian media and various so-called religious and political figures, it is always aware of even little things done by Tehran. Most recently Azerbaijani special services exposed a network of local citizens that were carrying out special assignments for Iranian power centres. Moreover, Azerbaijani and Georgian special services carried out a joint operation to expose an Iranian network in Georgia and thwarted provocative activities of Iranian special services among Azerbaijanis residing in the country.

Baku is also not going to back down from its position on the issue of the Zangazur corridor, despite the pressure of the IRI. This issue has already been included in official documents of international organizations. In other words, Iran got the backlash: the destructive policy resulted in Iran earning nothing but loud applause from the Armenian side for its confrontation with Azerbaijan.

Misakyan should have conducted a more thorough analysis of Iran's domestic politics, as the current events there do not bode well for the Iranian regime, which means Armenia will have to look for a new patron and source of hope.