The military operations launched by the United States and Israel against Iran on February 28 continue, and there is no move to stop the military operations.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian in a conversation with the French President said that Iran did not start this war, and they have no intention of conceding, statements with almost the same content are also being made by the United States and Israel.

E:Associate Professor of the Chair of International Relations and Diplomacy, international scientist Nubar Chalymyan speaking about the possible developments of the Iran-Israel-United States war, the possible role of various countries, including Turkey, he noted that before this war in the Middle East began, the 2 countries, or 2 1 countries, the United States and Israel, on the one hand, and Iran, on the other hand, did not make such correct calculations before entering into the conflict.

“I mean, they did not calculate the issue of extending or deepening the war. First of all, I think that the United States did not imagine that the military operations would last so long. Israel also did not imagine that the Iranian side could show such resistance to the US-Israeli missile strikes. Iran also did not imagine that 2 militarily powerful states would bring Iran to Iran within 2 weeks. We still don’t know many details about the devastation, but still, Iran suffered a lot and is suffering every day.”– 168.amNubar Chalemyan said in a conversation with

Regarding Turkey’s position in this situation, Nubar Chalymyan said, Turkey took more cunning steps, showing that it will never be included in the conflict. The military operations taking place in neighboring Iran are not beneficial for Turkey. In this context, we should not forget the ups and downs and contradictions of the relations between Turkey and Israel, which is developing more and more.

“It is never in Turkey’s interest that, on the one hand, Iran is bombing American military bases in the Arab countries of the Persian Gulf, be it Syria, Iraq, Kuwait, or the United Arab Emirates. In general, it is not in Turkey’s interest for the war in the region to take on a larger scale, and it is also not in its interest for the final defeat of Iran. On the other hand, it will be beneficial for Turkey if the United States and Israel finally resolve the issues of Iran, change the regime that both countries are striving for, then Turkey will become a major player in the region, so to speak, watching the “zone”, our interlocutor noted.

Continuing, the international expert noted that today the United States does not talk as much about changing the Islamic regime in Iran as Israel, as they say, Israel has grasped the root of the issue. The most important thing for Israel is to change the regime in Iran, because it understands that if the regime remains, even a little softer, it will still be considered an enemy state for Iran.

“The wrongness of the calculations of the United States was shown when they said that they could solve the issue very quickly.

The United States is gradually trying to drag Europe into the war, because we hear Trump’s sharp speech that Europe should help him so that these oil pipelines pass through the Strait of Hormuz unhindered, etc. Not all European countries are inclined to follow Trump’s speech. Now, on the one hand, the United States is stuck in this quagmire, but on the other hand, Israel is intensifying its rocket attacks to destroy Iranian cities, etc.

As they say, Iran should stay here with its “solution”, because it has thrown down the gauntlet to Israel and the United States, and the US president does not want to negotiate with Iran, he says that he will go to the end, that is, he will destroy Iran to the end. Trump’s goal is to change the regime in Iran not with the intervention of external forces, but with internal forces, which we still do not see,” stressed Nubar Chalymyan.

As for Armenia and the question of what dangers may threaten Armenia if the military operations in Iran continue, Nubar Chalymyan answered that Armenia has adopted the right policy during this period: a policy of “positive neutrality”, not a passive policy.

“The Republic of Armenia sent a condolence telegram on the occasion of the assassination of the spiritual leader of Iran, our representative made a note in the mourning book at the embassy, ​​that is, he is not in the status of a passive observer.

Our goal is not which regime we will sympathize with in Iran, we need Armenia to have neighborly relations with the people of Iran, this is the most important thing. We should not associate our politics with individuals and regimes, we should promote our friendship with the people. We should not allow a wedge to be driven between Armenians and Iranians, today we can go out to the outside world through Iran,” emphasized Nubar Chalymyan.

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A few days ago, the President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, approved the changes in the law “On Expropriation of Land for State Needs”.

According to the approved amendments, the expansion of state-owned airports and aerodromes, as well as the construction of new airports and aerodromes, have been added to the list of state needs for which land expropriation can be carried out.

In addition to this, the Civil Code of the country of changes according to this, in the presence of state needs, the state will be able to buy back the owned land for the expansion of the seaport area, and again for the expansion of existing state airports and aerodromes or for the construction of new ones.

It should be noted that in 2021, Aliyev and Erdogan were in occupied Varanda (Fizuli). airport to open(by the way, according to various reports, Aliyev’s plane mainly or only lands at Fizuli airport, if it comes from somewhere through the airspace), and in 2022, the presidents of Azerbaijan and Turkey will attend the opening ceremony of the airport in the occupied Kovskakan. to participate:

Already in May 2025, President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan in occupied Lachin had opened Azeri airport, which received the status of an international airport, the Prime Minister of Pakistan Shahbaz Sharif was also present at this ceremony.

In this context, let us add that in June 2025 from Baku officially it was announced that there is no plan to build a new airport in the occupied Artsakh territories. Another issue is that it is not excluded that in September 2023, as a result of the depopulation of Artsakh, after Stepanakert or Ivanyan airport comes under the control of Azerbaijan, the authorities of Azerbaijan will see the need to expand it, it was said about modernization.

Simultaneously, in early 2025, Baku had reported About the construction of a new airport in the Alyat Free Economic Zone, not far from Baku International Seaport.

What is the purpose of Aliyev’s decision to amend the law “On the Expropriation of Land for State Needs” in order to expand Azerbaijan’s existing airports or build new ones, and should we see only military plans or footnotes against the background of regional and geopolitical developments? 168.am–has discussed Analytical “Base”. of the center expert Shiraz Khachatryan in a conversation with

“These initiatives are not limited to military and security purposes in the short and long term. Those present changing regional and: geopolitical a waste of time is are more լայն՝ also transportation and: logistic «big of the game» important component. This stage In Azerbaijan airports construction and ports expansion oriented are country transportation nodes development, which ones pinning are from the east to: west aerial, marine and: terrestrial the ways. This the steps aimed at are to him, that Azerbaijan become regional transit main center, which opportunity is gives talk his economic interests increase and: of investments of involvement about already this stage։

At the same time, these steps also have a clear political message for both internal and external audiences in the sense that “the state builds, develops, controls”. By doing so, Azerbaijan shows that it is strengthening itself in the territories controlled by it in the long term and aims to become a key regional hub.

However, along with the priority economic component, it is important to emphasize that long term in perspective this processesof course they also have a military and: security նշանակություն՝ providing appropriate infrastructure base any regional of change or of the script case. And we have referred to that more than once in our discussions,” he said.

It should be noted that regarding the opening of the occupied Lachin airport in May 2025, with us in the conversation Shiraz Khachatryan drew attention to the fact that it allows Azerbaijan to control the northern borders of Armenia and Iran.

“Lachin airport has a great symbolic and military-political significance, it is not just a point of air communication. Turkey and Pakistan, which are preparing to participate in the opening of the airport, state that this project is not only an Azeri initiative, but also an initiative showing joint strength. It is a message addressed to Armenia, Iran, and more broadly to regional players.

Lachin is located at a strategic height, and this newly built airport actually becomes an observation and control node, which enables Azerbaijan to control the northern borders of Armenia and Iran with its allies.

The fact of the Lachin airport and the large infrastructure being built by Azerbaijan in the occupied Artsakh territory in general shows that after the war, Azerbaijan not only continues the power policy, but also tries to form a new military-political architecture without the primary mediation of Russia or the West,” explained the expert.

By the way, deviating a little from the topic, we want to draw attention to an interesting episode, on March 16, Azerbaijani sources circulated information and videos that the sounds of ATS were heard in the sky of Baku. And today, the Ministry of Defense of Azerbaijan, without clarification, noted, that there is no reason to worry. It’s interesting.

P.S. By the way, the other day 168.amthe had written that the period of the special quarantine regime in Azerbaijan once again has been extended until April 1, 2026. In other words, for almost 6 years, under the pretext of fighting against the coronavirus, Azerbaijan has been with its neighbors land borders is closed keep: But days after this, when the deadline has not yet expired, the Cabinet of Ministers of Azerbaijan decides that Azerbaijan’s land borders should remain closed until July 1, 2026. Naturally, the reason is regional events.

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Armine Ohanyan, editor-in-chief of “Hraparak” daily, writes on his Facebook page. “Political forces are already in full-time campaigning. One of them visits marzes with a team, reminding grandparents that he made them happy with 10,000 drams, others hold congresses and presentations, announce the format of participation in the elections.
The teams of Samvel Karapetyan and Robert Kocharyan made impressive presentations. It is clear that the impression left by these presentations is also important, because it is also what attracts or repels people. Big halls, ovations, speeches, announcement of the prime ministerial candidate… all according to the rules of the genre.

But nothing is perfect in nature and life, including these pre-campaign actions. For example, I am saddened by the lack of imagination, creativity – no original steps or words. Everything is predictable and familiar. Even speeches can be told in advance who will talk about what and how. Meanwhile, many remarkable propaganda tricks and technologies are used in different countries of the world.

The most important thing is that they are able to include new layers of the public, make spectacular propaganda, and activate the classes that don’t hope for elections. Hopefully the sequel will be more creative than the start.

Today, the presentation of the “Armenia” alliance was, of course, impressive in terms of the energy and crowd of the hall. But it is not good that the leader of the alliance cannot read Armenian texts fluently with an Armenian accent. And the applause after every sentence was very unpleasant. After all, there are still people who remember the congresses of the SMC and that scene caused déjà vu. Every nuance reminiscent of a cult of personality, at least for me, only causes rejection and alarm.

P.S.

In any case, judging by the Facebook and fake responses of the KP, the government received another dose of fear and terror. This is also the reason why criminal justice methods have gained momentum. Well, imagine how pathetic and bilious they are, that even I, the editor of “Hraparak”, was called to the Investigative Committee for questioning… I will go, I will come, I will tell you.”

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The Middle East crisis has entered a new and unpredictable phase of tension. Israel Defense Minister Israel Katz’s sensational statement that Ali Larijani, the former secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council and special adviser to the country’s spiritual leader, was killed as a result of the latest attacks by TSAKHAL, shocked the international community.

While Tehran still does not officially confirm this news, and possible statements published on behalf of Larijani appear on social networks, the information in the press and on the Internet is very different.

The image of Ali Larijani is not just that of a public official. he is one of the most influential and experienced figures of Iran’s political elite, who has been at the center of the country’s strategic decision-making for decades. The possible loss of a figure of such a level can be considered as the culmination of the “beheading strategy” implemented by Israel. If the information is confirmed, this will be the next heaviest blow to Tehran after the assassination of Qassem Soleimani and Ali Khamenei, which will force Tehran to either continue the war or retreat.

The importance of this event for the course of the war is difficult to overestimate. First of all, it is psychological pressure on the people of Iran, the IRGC and Iran’s allies.  The conflict, which was originally intended as a series of limited strikes, is now turning into an ontological struggle, where the parties have crossed all the “red lines”. The Larijani factor can become the spark that will determine whether the region will go towards total escalation or whether one of the parties, in this case Iran, will back down.

Russian orientalist Viktor Nadein-Raevsky 168.amtold that if the rumors are confirmed, it will be a great loss for Iran during the war, where even during the lifetime of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Ali Larijani had an exceptional role and weight in making decisions, maintaining ties between the branches of power and ensuring stability.

If that news is confirmed, according to his qualification, then Iran will have to overcome it, because in this case it is not only about the official, but personal qualities and a clear role due to it.

“Ali Larijani’s statements are more weighty than the president’s statements, usually sharper, clearer, expressing the true sentiments of the Iranian state. Therefore, taking all this into account, this can be a difficult destination.

On the other hand, we see that Iran was ready for any scenario from the beginning of this war. Thanks to that, the war did not go as planned, especially by the USA, and it is not in the interests of the prolongation of the war to this extent. If Israel is interested in longer scenarios, the same cannot be said about the USA,” the analyst explained.

Considering all this and Iran’s calculations, in his opinion, it is not possible to say unequivocally that Iran will not overcome such a loss.

“The question is that Iran had foreseen such a process, because it became clear even after the 12-day war that the goal of the US-Israel alliance is to break Iran’s resistance by beheading the leadership of Iran. Therefore, a system was developed so that Iran could maintain the stable operation of the system with quick appointments and replacements of officials,” Raevsky said.

According to him, however, such an event, if confirmed, will perhaps become a watershed and a great indicator of what kind of resistance Iran is ready for.

He believes that this conflict no longer has a negotiated solution, because the USA and Israel want to defeat, not to negotiate and reach compromise solutions.

“If the situation turns in Iran’s favor, in that case Iran will set preconditions. In general, these are the moods at present. Judging by the publications of the international press, the international mediation efforts do not give serious results either,” Raevsky noted.

As for the South Caucasus, he believes that as long as Iran resists effectively, many countries maintain neutrality, even having good relations with the USA and Israel. “I think that if the situation turns in favor of the USA, Israel, Turkey and Azerbaijan will also change their current position towards Iran, strengthening even more in the neighboring zones. As long as Iran resists, it has a balancing and stabilizing role, as well as curbing a number of ambitions,” he noted.

Let’s remind that Ali Larijani, Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, recently commented on the actions of US President Donald Trump on the X social network.

“Trump says he wants a quick victory. Although starting a war is easy, it cannot be won with a few tweets. We will not back down until we make you regret this serious miscalculation,” Larijani wrote.

In all his speeches, the statement that Iran will not retreat runs like a red thread. In his statements, he was quite harsh about the so-called “Zangezur Corridor” project and TRIPP, noting that Iran will not accept a change of the Armenian-Iranian border, geopolitical changes in the South Caucasus. Let us emphasize once again that Iran has not officially confirmed the news of Larijani’s murder.

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168TVof “Trigger” the guest of the program Lana Ravandi-Fada, head of the Oriental Cultural Center and senior researcher at the Institute of Oriental Studies of the National Academy of Sciences of the Russian Federation is:

During the conversation, the key geopolitical processes caused by the escalation of the situation around Iran were discussed in detail. The expert analyzed the goals of Israel and the US in the current confrontation, as well as assessed the development of events at this time.

Special attention was paid to the image of Mojtaba Khamenei, possible changes in Iran’s internal political dynamics, as well as expectations from the new supreme leader.

Within the framework of the discussion, the TRIPP project and its relevance in the conditions of the conflict that started were also touched upon. An important part of the conversation was the regional security, in particular, the possible risks for Armenia and Azerbaijan against the background of the increased presence of the USA in Armenia and Israel in Azerbaijan.

The expert considered the scenarios of a possible ground operation in the territory of Iran, and also analyzed the role of Turkey in the context of the possible weakening of Iran and the strengthening of Turkish positions in the region.

In addition, during the interview, Russia’s actions and possible future risks associated with its involvement were assessed. The religious factor of the conflict has become a separate block of discussion, including statements about the religious training of the American military and the interpretation of what is happening through the prism of a possible “new Armageddon”.

Hayk Derzyan

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There is a temporary calm on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border before a big storm. All Azerbaijani advances and positional improvements in the sovereign territory of Armenia are, in fact, military platforms for the purpose of developing further aggression against Armenia. It gave such an assessment 168 TVof Revue on the air of the program military expert Davit Jamalyanspeaking about the threats of new Azerbaijani aggression against Armenia and the effects of the US-Israel-Iran war.

The military expert compares the current military-political situation with the situation before the 2020 Forty-four-day catastrophic war.

“Do you remember that in 2018, when this disaster befell us, the Azerbaijanis were conducting military exercises in the Nakhijevan direction, they shortened the neutral zone in the Yeraskh-Aren sector and advanced significantly, then, it seems, everything calmed down, a backdrop of peace, and the Forty-Four-Day War broke out. Now it is a temporary pause before a big disaster again, so that the British-Turkish-Azerbaijani puppet can reproduce its power in Armenia, and the illusion of peace will work,” comments Davit Jamalyan.

Jamalyan emphasizes that Azerbaijan is not ready for peace and is waiting for an opportune moment to attack Armenia in the context of the Iranian war. The military expert predicts Azerbaijan’s new military aggression against Armenia and considers it more likely that it will happen after the National Assembly elections in Armenia on June 7, if Nikol Pashinyan manages to restore his power.

“They are not shooting yet, but Azerbaijan is not ready for peace, it is waiting for the right moment in this Iranian context, when Iran will weaken, to strike and first of all to strike us, to take Syunik, having the unequivocal support of the West, Turkey, Israel, and at the moment, the fact that the Iranian statehood is standing still saves us from that disastrous scenario,” the military expert says.

According to Jamalyan, the enemy is preparing a platform with wedge-shaped thrusts in the RA border to ensure advancement from different sectors and divide the territories of Syunik and Vayots Dzor. According to the expert, the platform was prepared in Nerkin Hand, Sev Lake, Jermuk and other directions. According to the expert, in the case of the reproduction of Nikol Pashinyan’s power, not only Aliyev, but also Turkey, Britain, the European Union, and the Trump administration have the maximum goal of settling 300 thousand Azerbaijanis in Armenia, and in parallel, Aliyev receives the corridor under the name of TRIPP.

In this context, he draws attention to Aliyev’s statement that Azerbaijan is ready to recognize the territorial integrity of Armenia, but may change its position after half a year.

According to Davit Jamalyan’s analysis, Azerbaijan is trying to solve two strategic problems with its above-mentioned program.

“TRIPP will lead to the Turkishization of the Meghri sector under the name of infrastructure, they will first of all settle the areas adjacent to TRIPP with Turks. In the absence of resistance, there is no point in invading. they will come and be confirmed, after 5 years they will demand autonomy, after that they will try to refuse, at that time you will either give autonomy to the Turks who have already arrived, or you will fight.

If you are going to fight, your work becomes a hundred times more complicated, because not only the springboard with wedge-shaped cracks is already ready, but also the rear is not strong, because they have already arrived and established themselves in different places. Azerbaijan will justify that “according to its constitution, 60 percent of the territories of Armenia are its own, and it is carrying out an anti-terrorist operation to liberate its territory”, and we cannot say anything, because according to the peace treaty, Nikol Pashinyan did not demand that Azerbaijan make changes to its constitution.

He clearly said that we know that according to the constitution of Azerbaijan, about 60 percent of our territory is Azerbaijan, but we do not demand that they change it, because Aliyev declares that he accepts territorial integrity. This means making fools of us all. If you don’t demand it, then you legitimize his future strike, that’s why Nikol’s government is a war-making government. First, by bringing the Turks, that fight will be brought to our streets, and then, if those Turks want autonomy, Azerbaijan, having made its constitution a flag, will strike. This is the ultimate goal.”

However, according to the expert, if Aliyev sees that Nikol Pashinyan is unable to reproduce, it is not excluded that Azerbaijan will strike in the near future, before the elections, in the hope that they will introduce martial law in Armenia and cancel the elections.

“Then we must understand that if Nikol is not reproduced, his reproduction is not achieved, he loses interest for his Anglo-Turkish owners, Aliyev. They can give some guarantees, but in that case they need Nikol for one thing: as long as you are in power, we will take whatever is possible, and Aliyev’s statement yesterday that we can change our position after half a year suggests that they are more inclined to the idea that Nikol’s rule will not be repeated, and he is thus preparing the informational and diplomatic background for a new aggression,” the expert continues.

According to Davit Jamalyan, head of the Wings of Unity initiative, former human rights defender Arman Tatoyan the statement About the new Azerbaijani incursions in the direction of Vardenis and Jermuk, it is not only true, but it is the well-known truth that everyone knows, and if the Ministry of Defense denies something during the rule of Nikol Pashinyan, it means that there is something, and the suspicions should deepen.

The military expert attaches great importance to having a powerful ally, noting that the strategic interests of Armenia and Russia coincide. According to Jamalyan, it is in the interests of Russia that Syunik and Artsakh should be part of Armenia.

In response to the question of “Review”, why in that case the Russian peacekeeping troops allowed the full occupation of Artsakh by Azerbaijan, the military expert told remarkable details of the events that took place during the days of the Azerbaijani aggression against the Republic of Artsakh, in September 2023. According to him, the blockade of Artsakh was a “Nikola-Aliyev joint action against the Armenian interests”.

According to Davit Jamalyan, in 2023 in the afternoon of September 19, the then Minister of Defense of Iran Mohammad Reza Ashtiani (or Chief of General Staff Mohammad Hossein Bagheri) in the presence of the Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu, who was in Tehran at that time, contacted the Ministry of Defense of Armenia, offering the help of Iran and Russia to break the blockade and enter Artsakh. Davit Jamalyan refers to the data published by Russian-Armenian orientalist Karine Gevorgyan.

“Our compatriot, orientalist Karine Gevorgyan announced on September 20 on the air of the “Golos Moskvy” radio company that there was a call from the Iranian side, where Shoigu was also located, and it was suggested to “use the territory of Armenia as a base to stabilize the situation in Artsakh.” This wording is his. If we open this diplomatic formulation, this means that some forces had to enter the territory of Armenia from Iran, break through the blockade, and reach Artsakh. But remember what happened. A meeting of the Security Council took place at that moment, and the Security Council headed by Nikol Pashinyan decided not to intervene, to step aside. And let’s remember that before the September 2023 aggression against Artsakh, there was a telephone conversation between Erdogan and Pashinyan,” the expert noted.

According to Davit Jamalyan, moreover, that call was made twice from Tehran, not only in the afternoon of September 19, but also late in the evening. He also added that Pashinyan admitted this by declaring that they were trying to drag us into the war.

Full interview in the video.

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Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia Ilya II has died. The patriarch Ilia IIdied in the clinic at the age of 93.

Earlier we reported that Patriarch Ilya II of Georgia is in the intensive care unit due to health problems and is connected to an artificial respiration device. According to the country’s health minister, the situation remains very difficult and worrying. The Patriarch of Georgia was taken to the hospital with internal bleeding.

The patriarchate of Ilia II is the longest in the history of the Georgian Orthodox Church. In 1977 since December 25, he has been the Catholicos-Patriarch of all Georgia, as well as Archbishop of Mtskheta and Tbilisi, Metropolitan of Pitsunda, Sukhum and Abkhazia, and Georgian Orthodox Church leader

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