Iran Reaffirms Support for Armenia’s Territorial Integrity, Signals Deeper Ec

Boris Nahapetian
Caucasus Watch, Germany
April 10 2026
10 Apr 2026 | News, Politics, Armenia

Iran has reaffirmed its strong backing for Armenia’s territorial integrity while signaling interest in expanding economic cooperation.

Ambassador Khalil Shirgholami described Armenia’s sovereignty as of “vital and decisive importance” to Tehran during remarks at Yerevan State University.

He emphasized that regional stability should be driven primarily by local actors. “We support integration processes in the region,” he said, adding that “the driving forces for integration, development, and peace should be the countries of the region themselves.”

While acknowledging the role of external stakeholders, he cautioned against outside involvement driven by military or geopolitical interests.

On economic ties, Shirgholami said bilateral trade remains stable despite regional tensions. “Trade continues, the border is open, and vehicles – including buses and trucks – are passing through,” he noted.

He pointed to upcoming infrastructure projects — including a second bridge over the Araks River and potential new transit routes — as key drivers of future trade growth.

The ambassador also thanked Armenia for humanitarian assistance. “This is a very important symbolic gesture to Iran as a friendly country, and we are truly grateful for it. Regardless of the amount and type of assistance – be it medicine, food, or other assistance, this symbolic gesture is very important. We appreciate it,” he said.

https://caucasuswatch.de/en/news/iran-reaffirms-support-for-armenias-territorial-integrity-signals-deeper-economic-ties.html

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Armenian History Month kickoff features heartfelt words, historical perspectiv

Kanayan Tamar
USC Today
April 10 2026

The third annual event in Hahn Central Plaza honored legacy of survival and resilience.

April 10, 2026By USC News staff

USC’s third annual Armenian History Month opening ceremony brought lively dancing, music and heartfelt words to Hahn Central Plaza on the University Park Campus on Tuesday.

The ceremony, attended by students, faculty and staff, was presented by the USC Armenian Student Association and the Institute of Armenian Studies at the USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences.

Both organizations are dedicated to honoring Armenian excellence, culture, history and contributions to the USC community and beyond. They have partnered for a monthlong celebration that offers opportunities to learn about Armenian history and culture while fostering inclusion and dialogue across campus.

Los Angeles County is home to more than 200,000 Armenians. When the county’s Board of Supervisors declared April to be Armenian History Month in 2022, students and the institute began a grassroots effort to mark the occasion at USC.

https://today.usc.edu/armenian-history-month-kickoff-features-heartfelt-words-historical-perspective-and-traditional-dances/

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Armenpress: Both U.S. and Iran claim victory after two-week ceasefire deal rea

Toneyan Mark
Read the article in: EspañolفارسیFrançaisՀայերենRussianTürkçe

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that he had agreed to a two-week ceasefire with Iran, less than two hours before his deadline for Tehran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz or face widespread attacks on its civilian infrastructure.

Oil dived, bonds rallied and stocks surged as the ceasefire was seen as paving the way for a lasting peace and resumption of Gulf oil and gas exports, Reuters reported.

Iran says it has achieved a “great victory” and forced the United States to accept in principle its 10-point plan, according to a statement from Iran’s Supreme National Security Council reported by Iranian state media.

The council also said the US has recognized its continued control over the Strait of Hormuz. The council said controlled passage through the waterway would be carried out “in coordination with Iran’s armed forces,” according to the statement reported by state media.

Iranian officials have released multiple statements following the breakthrough announcement of a two-week ceasefire with the United States. An English version of the statement was obtained by CNN from Iranian officials and versions of the statement were reported on by multiple Iranian state media outlets.

The Trump administration is preparing for potential in-person negotiations between US and Iranian officials in the coming days, as the two sides work towards a long-term deal to end the war between Washington and Tehran, CNN reported citing officials.

President Donald Trump said he’d agreed to a two-week ceasefire with Iran on the condition that Iran agree to reopen the critical Strait of Hormuz.

Iran’s foreign minister Abbas Araghchi said safe passage through Strait of Hormuz will be possible for a period of two weeks via coordination with Iran’s armed forces.

The US president has shared a post on TruthSocial saying that the US “will be helping with the traffic buildup in the Strait of Hormuz”.

“We’ll be loading up with supplies of all kinds, and just “hangin’ around” to make sure that everything goes well, Trump said, adding that “this could be the Golden Age of the Middle East!!!”

Trump did not provide further details about what the US role would entail, but said that “big money will be made” and “Iran can start the reconstruction process”.

The AP news agency reported earlier that under the ceasefire deal, Iran will collect fees from ships transiting through the Strait of Hormuz to fund reconstruction.

“Based on conversations with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir, of Pakistan, and wherein they requested that I hold off the destructive force being sent tonight to Iran, and subject to the Islamic Republic of Iran agreeing to the COMPLETE, IMMEDIATE, and SAFE OPENING of the Strait of Hormuz, I agree to suspend the bombing and attack of Iran for a period of two weeks. This will be a double sided CEASEFIRE! The reason for doing so is that we have already met and exceeded all Military objectives, and are very far along with a definitive Agreement concerning Longterm PEACE with Iran, and PEACE in the Middle East. We received a 10 point proposal from Iran, and believe it is a workable basis on which to negotiate. Almost all of the various points of past contention have been agreed to between the United States and Iran, but a two week period will allow the Agreement to be finalized and consummated. On behalf of the United States of America, as President, and also representing the Countries of the Middle East, it is an Honor to have this Longterm problem close to resolution,” Trump said on Truth Social.

Published by Armenpress, original at 
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Netanyahu says U.S.-Iran ceasefire ‘does not include Lebanon’

Karakhanian Suren
Read the article in: ArmenianRussian:

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office has expressed support for the United States’ decision to suspend strikes on Iran, but said the two-week truce will not extend to Israel’s ongoing military operations in Lebanon.

In a statement on X on Wednesday, Netanyahu said Israel backed US President Donald Trump’s efforts to ensure “Iran no longer poses a nuclear, missile and terror threat to America, Israel, Iran’s Arab neighbors and the world”.

But the two-week ceasefire “does not include Lebanon”, he said.

Netanyahu’s statement comes after Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced that the US, Iran and their allies “have agreed to an immediate ceasefire everywhere, including Lebanon and elsewhere,” according to Al Jazeera.

Sharif said the move was “effective immediately”.

Lebanon was drawn into the U.S. and Israel’s war on Iran on March 2 after Tehran-aligned Hezbollah launched attacks on Israel.

Published by Armenpress, original at 
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Iraq reopens airspace

Albert Nalbandian
Read the article in: ArmenianRussian:

Iraq officially announced Wednesday the reopening of the country’s airspace and all commercial airports effective immediately.

The announcement was made by the Iraqi Civil Aviation Authority (ICAA), which confirmed that “airspace and all Iraqi airports will be opened starting today.”

The Iraqi airspace was closed for about 40 days due to the war in Iran and subsequent escalation across the Middle East.

The United States and Iran have agreed to a two-week ceasefire. U.S. President Donald Trump announced the agreement late on Tuesday, just two hours before a deadline he had set for Iran to open the blockaded Strait of ‌Hormuz or face the destruction of its “whole civilisation”.

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said he had invited Iranian and U.S. delegations to meet in Islamabad on Friday for talks. 

Read the article in: ArmenianRussian:

Published by Armenpress, original at 
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Armenian PM Pashinyan says Kazakhstan among key countries taking interest in T

Kanayan Tamar
KazInform – Kazakhstan
April 9 2026
17:43, 9 April 2026

Armenia’s Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said on Thursday that Kazakhstan, like many other countries, is interested in the TRIPP connectivity project, ARMENPRESS reports. 

Photo credit: Armenpress

A new route for international communication is opening, and Kazakhstan is one of the major players in the international transport sector, particularly in terms of the flow of goods to and from China, Pashinyan said at a press briefing on April 9, when asked about the Kazakh Foreign Minister’s visit to Armenia.

“Our Kazakh partners, with whom we also discussed this issue during my visit, are trying to gain a more concrete understanding of the transport opportunities that are opening up and how this will affect them,” he added. 

Kazakhstan is not the only country interested in this topic; many countries are. The process is public, and we do not intend to hide it from our partners. Naturally, we should invite Kazakhstan to be prepared to consider using transit routes through Armenia as part of their export, import, and transport service chains, Pashinyan said.

The Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP) is a connectivity project in Armenia, envisaged under the U.S.-brokered Armenian-Azerbaijani joint declaration signed in Washington, D.C. The project is expected to unlock strategic economic opportunities, create long-term benefits by promoting infrastructure investment, and enhance regional connectivity. An Armenian-American joint enterprise is expected to develop the route.

On April 8-9, Kazakhstan’s Foreign Minister, Yermek Kosherbayev, will pay an official visit to Armenia. The delegation also includes Kazakhstan’s Minister of Transportation, Nurlan Sauranbayev.

Previously, Qazinform News Agency reported Kazakhstan approves an intelligence cooperation deal with Armenia. 

 

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Armenia’s Foreign Policy Dilemma: The Pashinyan–Putin Meeting in Context

Ani Basmajian
Special Eurasia
April 9 2026

Armenia’s Foreign Policy Dilemma: The Pashinyan–Putin Meeting in Context

Executive Intelligence Snapshot

Armenia’s leadership is attempting to rebalance its foreign policy between Russia and the West ahead of pivotal June 2026 elections, but Moscow’s warnings and tightening leverage signal a narrowing space for Yerevan’s strategic manoeuvre.

Key Judgments

  1. Russia is increasing political and economic pressure on Armenia to deter deeper EU alignment, signalling readiness to recalibrate bilateral ties.
  2. Pashinyan aims to maintain ties with Moscow and pursue Western integration, yet domestic election concerns limit his options.
  3. The unresolved CSTO dispute and competing connectivity projects heighten strategic uncertainty in the South Caucasus, exposing Armenia to coercive risks from multiple directions.

Situation Overview

  • Nikol Pashinyan’s official visit to Moscow on April 1, 2026, occurred amidst a politically charged atmosphere, as parliamentary elections loomed and his Civil Contract party garnered approximately 25% in opinion polls. He sought to show his ability to handle Yerevan’s ties with Moscow while also appeasing Western-leaning voters.
  • Talks with Putin underscored widening strategic differences, especially over Armenia’s EU ambitions. Moscow argued that EU membership would conflict with the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), suggesting economic repercussions for Yerevan if it changed its policy.
  • The Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) dispute remained unresolved, with Russia arguing Armenia’s recognition of Azerbaijani sovereignty over Nagorno‑Karabakh/Artsakh in 2022 limited the alliance’s ability to intervene. This position further diminished the Armenian public’s trust in the CSTO.
  • Heightened economic pressures arose because of Russia’s possible imposition of tougher trade laws and intimations of further measures, as stated by Aleksei Overchuk, the Russian Deputy Prime Minister. In response, Armenia suggested it might withdraw from the EAEU and CSTO and is looking into Western-backed transport corridors to decrease reliance on Russian infrastructure.
  • Russia’s proposal to re-establish railway connections close to Armenia’s borders and its desire to maintain control over the country’s rail operations intensified infrastructure competition. The US-backed TRIPP corridor and the EU-supported Trans-Caspian routes provided alternative options, lessening Armenia’s reliance on Russian-controlled infrastructure.

Intelligence Assessment

The Armenian leadership’s objectives include safeguarding long-term sovereignty, decreasing its security dependence on Russia, and aligning the nation with Western political and economic systems. Pashinyan, however, must contend with internal politics where nationalist factions retain considerable influence, and any perceived overextension of strategy could upset the precarious post-Karabakh political accord. Russia aims to halt the diminishing of its sway in the South Caucasus and perceives Yerevan’s ties with the West as indicative of a larger trend of geopolitical expansion.

Moscow still has significant leverage: energy pricing, labour migration flows, trade access, and Russian military facilities in the Caucasian republic. Recent warnings show a readiness to employ economic pressure against Yerevan. Armenia’s signals about possibly withdrawing from Russian-led blocs seem intended to discourage pressure, not to enact a definitive separation. Considering Yerevan’s economic vulnerabilities and the lack of prompt Western security guarantees, the credibility of these threats is questionable.

The most likely scenario is a continued uneasy equilibrium. Armenia intends to strengthen its collaboration with the EU and the US, focusing on areas such as connectivity, digital infrastructure, and defence-related technologies. However, the country will refrain from taking any official actions that could provoke a response from Russia. Moscow will continue with its rhetoric and targeted economic sanctions, but will avoid a complete break, believing that destabilising Yerevan could drive it closer to the West.

A significant escalation of Russian pressure poses the greatest risk, possibly instigated by Yerevan formally joining the EU or changing the status of Russian military bases. A confrontation like this could lead to instability in Armenian domestic politics, strengthen nationalist factions, and jeopardise the precarious peace process between Armenia and Azerbaijan. This situation might also allow Iran or Turkey to increase their influence because of the current regional instability, especially considering the ongoing conflicts involving Iran and the potential for them to spread into the South Caucasus.

Second-order consequences may involve divisions among Armenia’s political leaders, a decline in investor trust for projects connecting the region, and intensified rivalry between Western and Russian endeavours.

Indicators to Monitor

  • Russian economic measures, such as revisions to trade embargoes, energy rate adjustments, or prohibitions affecting Armenian exports and the influx of its labour force.
  • Armenia’s engagement with EU structures, especially any formal steps toward accession or deeper security cooperation.
  • CSTO dynamics, with particular attention to Russian pronouncements on Yerevan’s paused membership and any shifts concerning Russian military installations in the South Caucasus republic.
  • Domestic political shifts in Armenia, particularly polling trends for nationalist or revanchist parties ahead of the June 2026 elections.
  • Developments in regional connectivity, including advancements in EU and US-supported corridors as opposed to rail and transport initiatives proposed by Russia.

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Why absurdly affordable Yerevan deserves a place on your travel wishlist

Jirair Kafian
The Telegraph, UK
April 9 2026

With Wizz Air poised to launch direct flights from London, there’s never been a better time to discover the vibrant capital of Armenia

Elise Morton

It’s late evening in Yerevan, and the pavements are still buzzing. Couples stroll past the fountains on Republic Square, families and young people chat outside late-opening coffee shops. “In summer especially, the streets are busy until late, no matter the day of the week,” says my guide Lusine, who runs tour company Next is Armenia.

Many cafés stay open until 11pm, bars even later – a treat for anyone arriving from London, where finding somewhere nice to sit with a cup of coffee after 5pm can be a genuine challenge if you don’t fancy a drink.

Armenia’s capital is one of the world’s oldest continuously inhabited cities – founded in 782 BC by King Argishti I as the fortress of Erebuni, it is 29 years older than Rome – yet it remains remarkably under the radar as a travel destination.

That looks set to change this summer, when Wizz Air launches a direct route from London Luton – the first direct connection in years. And while the price tag is undeniably appealing (we’re talking flights from around £37 one way and pints for barely £1.50), what kept surprising me was just how much this city offers for a long weekend: extraordinary history, bold architecture, superb food and a creative energy that feels genuinely its own.

Deep roots into a distant past

Yerevan sits against a dramatic backdrop. The silhouette of Mount Ararat – sacred to Armenians, though it lies just across the border in Turkey – looms over the city, the mountain where, legend has it, Noah’s Ark came to rest. This is a country that wears its ancient identity proudly: Armenia was the first nation to adopt Christianity as its state religion, in 301 AD, and you feel that deep-rootedness everywhere you go. 

The city is built from distinctive pink and ochre volcanic tufa stone, lending it a warm, rosy glow in the late-afternoon light. Republic Square, with its grand ring of buildings and illuminated fountains after dark, is the obvious starting point; nearby, the sprawling Vernissage Market is the place to rummage for handmade pottery, traditional carpets and all manner of curios.

One of the first things you notice in Yerevan is the beguiling Armenian script. Its curling, hook-like letters are everywhere, on shopfronts and monuments and menus. To dig deeper into its history, head to the Matenadaran, a remarkable repository of more than 17,000 ancient manuscripts and 100,000 documents – just one of a host of museums that make this city so rewarding. 

The History Museum of Armenia – which houses around 400,000 objects, including Iron Age altars and maps from the Russo-Turkish wars – rewards a visit, as does the Armenian Genocide Memorial Complex on Tsitsernakaberd hill, a sobering reminder of the mass atrocities committed against Armenians during the First World War.

Then wander down to the Cascade Complex, a vast terraced structure housing the Cafesjian Art Center and a sculpture park with pieces scattered among its gardens and stairways. For cinema lovers, the Sergei Parajanov Museum is a wonderfully eccentric tribute to the visionary director of The Colour of Pomegranates, displaying his artistic and literary heritage from photos to screenplays.

Long lunches and musical grapes

The food scene is a highlight in its own right. At Lavash, you can sample harissa (a slow-cooked wheat and lamb porridge that’s something of a national dish), Armenian trout from Lake Sevan and arishta, a thick local pasta. At Dalan Art Gallery and Restaurant, the garden setting makes for a perfect long lunch. For coffee, head to Lumen, which has the buzzy energy of an East London roastery, or the stylish yet disarmingly friendly NÖNÖ.

It would be churlish not to wash down the sumptuous cuisine with some Armenian drinks. No visit would be complete without the Ararat brandy museum, where an unforgettable aroma hits you the moment you walk through the door – what my guide Ani tells me is called the “angel’s share”, the small percentage that evaporates annually from the ageing barrels. The tour takes you through the history of distillation and barrel-making before culminating in a tasting.

For wine, venture out to the Aragatsotn region to visit Van Ardi, Armenia’s first boutique winery. Founded by the Mouradian family, who uprooted their lives in Los Angeles in 2008 to pursue a dream, it’s a passion project in the truest sense. Varuzhan’s daughter, Arpi, leads tours through vineyards planted in volcanic soil at more than 1,000m above sea level. Sound, she explains, is vital to the health of the vines: classical, jazz and Armenian compositions play to the grapes year-round, and visitors are invited to ring a huge church bell in the on-site tower. 

Lunch in their restaurant – fried vine-leaf tacos, an aromatic tarragon salad and roast lamb with garlicky potatoes – is exceptional. And for something stronger, make time for Aharonyan Distillery, where small-batch fruit spirits are triple-distilled from Armenian orchard produce with no sugar or additives. The apricot – Armenia’s national fruit – is outstanding, as are the mulberry and nectarine.

A day trip with a difference

A long weekend in Yerevan all but demands a day trip, and the classic outing is the Garni-Geghard circuit, about an hour’s drive east. Taxis are inexpensive and drivers will cheerfully wait for you, or group tours are widely available. The Temple of Garni is a first-century colonnaded wonder – the only largely intact Hellenistic structure in the former Soviet Union, thought to have been dedicated to the sun god Mihr. It collapsed in a 1679 earthquake but was painstakingly reconstructed in the 1970s; standing among its columns, high on a gorge above the Azat River, is one of those moments that fixes itself in your memory. 

Fifteen minutes further into the gorge lies the Unesco World Heritage Site Geghard, a medieval monastery partially carved into the mountainside. Water trickles through the rock-cut chambers; Lusine tells me that many devout visitors come to drink from its spring, which is believed to have healing qualities. The monastery’s name means “spear” – a reference to the lance said to have pierced Christ’s side, which was once kept here among its relics.

At every turn, Yerevan surprised me: grander, livelier, more layered than I’d expected, and far easier on the wallet than almost anywhere in Europe. There is a warmth to the city – in the stone, in the people, in the late-night hum of the streets – that stays with you long after you leave. With direct flights imminent, the secret is unlikely to keep for long.

Essentials

Wizz Air will begin flying direct from London Luton to Yerevan on June 12, 2026, with fares from around £37 one way.

Avenue 30 Hotel has doubles with balconies from £67 per night, including breakfast. Grand Hotel Yerevan has doubles from £148 per night, including breakfast.

Elise Morton visited Yerevan with support from The Armenia Project.

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Pashinyan says Armenia–Russia relations undergo ‘constructive transformation’

Toneyan Mark
OC Media
April 9 2026

Amidst renewed tension in Armenia–Russia relations following a meeting between Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Russian President Vladimir Putin on 1 April, Pashinyan has said the bilateral relationship is undergoing a ‘constructive transformation’.

‘I evaluate this process positively’, Pashinyan said during his weekly press briefing on Thursday.

He added that Armenia would ‘not deviate from the logic of friendly dialogue and will continue along this path’. Pashinyan also disclosed that, based on the agreements reached, he would meet Putin again in the ‘second half of June’.

During their latest meeting in April, Pashinyan and Putin failed to reach an agreement regarding the future of Armenia’s railways, which is currently under Russian management as part of a 30-year concession agreement signed in 2008.

Following the talks, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Aleksei Overchuk stated there were ‘no objective reasons for selling’ the concession to a third party.

Putin and Pashinyan hold contentious talks in Moscow

However, Armenia has insisted that Russian management means a loss of ‘competitive advantage’ by having international routes pass through the country. In February, Pashinyan said that a country with ‘friendly relations’ with both Russia and Armenia could ‘purchase the concession management rights’ of Armenia’s railways, naming Kazakhstan, among others, as a possible fit for the role.

Pashinyan stated that the railway issue ‘may’ be touched upon ahead of talks between Kazakhstan and Armenia in Yerevan on Thursday, as the country’s Foreign Minister Yermek Kosherbayev and Transportation Minister Nurlan Sauranbayev arrived in the capital.

Meanwhile, he expressed Armenia’s reluctance ‘to do anything behind Russia’s back or against Russia’.

‘At least at this stage, when dialogue opportunities are open and broad, we will continue our work’, Pashinyan said.

Threats do not scare a hedgehog

During his Thursday briefing, Pashinyan also stated that there exists ‘no basis’ for the increase in the Russian gas price for Armenia, noting that Armenia has ‘long-term contracts’ with Russia.

Speculation appeared following the 1 April talks, when Putin addressed gas prices, highlighting the significant discount Armenia receives from buying Russian energy.

‘The price of gas in Europe exceeds $600 per 1000 cubic metres, and Russia sells gas to Armenia for $177.5 per 1000 cubic metres’, Putin said.

In turn, Armenia threatened to leave the Russian-led Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) and Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO) in case of an increase in Russia’s gas prices, though adding that such an increase seemed unlikely.

Yerevan threatens to leave Russia-led blocs in latest diplomatic row with Moscow

During her Wednesday briefing, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova burst into laughter for several seconds upon hearing the name of Armenia’s Parliamentary Speaker, Alen Simonyan — one of the officials who had suggested such a withdrawal — at the start of a journalist’s question.

Only after this outburst did the journalist manage to finish the question, requesting a comment on Yerevan’s threats to leave the two organisations. Zakharova responded with a metaphor, saying the threats reminded her of ‘threatening a hedgehog by exposing one’s capabilities’. She apparently implied that it would be impossible to threaten such an animal, or Russia, due to the number of needles or protective barriers it has.

Zakharova further noted her lack of interest in ‘seriously commenting on the statements of emotional politicians’. Instead, focusing on gas prices, she noted that it was the ‘responsibility of the Armenian leadership to ensure its country’s energy security’.

She added that the issue was especially relevant given the turmoil in gas markets due to the US–Israel attack on Iran.

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