April 17, 2026
The Strait of Hormuz is open, the Iranian Foreign Ministry announced.
This decision is valid during the period of the ceasefire in Lebanon.
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Hybrid attacks on Armenia by two supposedly rival hacking groups
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‘Hint of discontent’: Armenia’s foreign minister skips Antalya diplomatic for
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Jerusalem and Armenian Patriarchates stress unity for the protection of Christ
On April 16, 2026, during Bright Week, the Brotherhood of the Holy Sepulchre, led by Patriarch Theophilos III of Jerusalem, visited the Armenian Brotherhood at the Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem on the occasion of their Paschal celebrations.
During the visit, Patriarch Theophilos III and Nourhan Manougian exchanged official greetings, emphasizing the importance of continued cooperation between the Churches.
In their remarks, both leaders highlighted the need for unity in addressing ongoing challenges, particularly in safeguarding the pilgrimage status of the Holy Places and ensuring the protection of Christians in the region. They stressed that collaboration among Christian communities remains essential for preserving their presence and rights in the Holy Land.
Special reference was made to the recent difficulties caused by war, which has temporarily subsided following a ceasefire. The Churches, they noted, continue to pray for the preservation of peace, drawing strength and hope from the light of the Risen Christ.
The meeting reaffirmed the shared commitment of the Christian Churches in Jerusalem to stand together in defense of their faithful and their sacred heritage.
Source: Patriarchate of Jerusalem
https://orthodoxtimes.com/jerusalem-and-armenian-patriarchates-stress-unity-for-the-protection-of-christians-in-the-holy-land/
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Yerevan says release of Armenian prisoners key to ‘genuine reconciliation’ wit
Armenian Parliamentary Speaker Alen Simonyan has said that the release of Armenian detainees held in Azerbaijan and clarification of the fate of missing people should be achieved in order to ‘achieve genuine reconciliation’.
The remark was made at the Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) in Istanbul, Turkey.
Azerbaijan has officially acknowledged holding 19 Armenian detainees, including former political and military leaders of Nagorno-Karabakh, who are serving sentences on various charges.
In January, Azerbaijan handed over four Armenian prisoners. Following the release, Azerbaijani government sources communicated to pro-government media that there was ‘no possibility’ that former Nagorno-Karabakh leaders and ‘individuals who committed crimes against the Azerbaijani people’ would be released.
As for missing persons, Armenia has around 1,000 people unaccounted for since the conflict with Azerbaijan began in the late 1980s,, while Azerbaijan reports approximately 4,000 missing. In June 2025, Armenia and Azerbaijan’s commissions on missing persons held a meeting.
Simonyan’s Thursday speech focused heavily on the peace process, stating that ‘after decades of suspicion and ill will, a new era of confidence-building has dawned’ on Armenia and Azerbaijan.
He highlighted progress on regional connectivity, particularly the Trump Route (TRIPP), describing it as a ‘milestone’ with the ‘potential to promote stability, economic cooperation, and prosperity across the South Caucasus and beyond’.
Simonyan also pointed to the start of limited trade between Armenia and Azerbaijan in late 2025 — the first since the early 1990s — calling it an ‘encouraging sign of normalisation’.
Referring to the Washington summit in August 2025, where a peace treaty was initialled and an agreement on the Trump Route was reached, Simonyan said that ‘peace has prevailed in our region, marking a truly monumental achievement’.
He added that Armenia’s vision ‘is grander’ and included inviting Turkey to take part in regional peace efforts.
‘To this end, we are eager to deepen our relationship with Türkiye’, Simonyan said.
Armenia and Turkey have been engaged in a renewed normalisation process since 2022, including meetings of special envoys on normalisation at their shared border and in their respective capitals. However, diplomatic relations have not yet been established, and the land border remains closed.
In 2022, the sides agreed to allow third-country nationals and diplomats to cross the land border, but Turkey has since stated progress in the Armenia–Azerbaijan peace process is a precondition for further achievements in the normalisation process with Armenia. Turkey originally closed the border in 1993 during the First Nagorno-Karabakh War.
This year, Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan and Special Envoy Ruben Rubinyan will sit out the Antalya Diplomacy Forum taking place 17-19 April, in which they have participated since 2022. Instead, Deputy Foreign Minister Vahan Kostanyan is expected to represent Armenia.
The Foreign Ministry has declined to comment on the decision in response to media inquiries. While Rubinyan, attending the forum in 2025, met his Turkish counterpart Serdar Kilic during the event.
On the sidelines of the IPU assembly, Simonyan also met with Azerbaijani Parliamentary Speaker Sahiba Gafarova. According to the Armenian readout, the sides ‘stressed the importance of continuing constructive parliamentary dialogue to further strengthen trust between the two societies’.
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Turkish Press: Armenia says it is ready to open border with Türkiye, awaits An
April 17 2026
Armenia says it is ready to open border with Türkiye, awaits Ankara’s move
Armenia is politically and technically ready to open its border with Türkiye at any time, Armenian Deputy Foreign Minister Vahan Kostanyan said, but added that the next step now depends on the Turkish side.
The normalization process between the two countries remains stalled on the ground despite recent diplomatic momentum.
Speaking to CNN TURK during the Antalya Diplomacy Forum, Kostanyan said the current focus is on the Alican border gate, while technical work also continues on reopening railway links between the two neighbors.
“We are politically and technically ready to open the border at any moment,” Kostanyan said. “However, I think this question should be directed to the Turkish side.”
Kostanyan said Armenia and Türkiye had already agreed since 2022 to open the border for diplomatic passport holders and third-country nationals, and that both sides had repeatedly reaffirmed that understanding.
He said Armenia now expects those agreements to be implemented in practice.
Armenia says normalization progress hasn’t yet changed ground reality
Kostanyan said Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian’s official visit to Türkiye on June 20 gave new momentum to the relationship.
He described it as a historic visit and said it was the first official prime minister-level visit from Armenia to Türkiye with a bilateral agenda since Armenia’s independence.
But he said that despite that political progress, the situation on the ground in Armenia-Türkiye relations remains unchanged.
“Unfortunately, Armenia-Türkiye relations on the ground are still in the same condition as one, two, three years ago,” he said.
He said Türkiye’s completion of infrastructure work had been important, but added that Armenia is now waiting for implementation in the field.
Alican border gate prioritized as railway work continues
Asked whether Alican and Akyaka could open at the same time, Kostanyan said the current discussion is focused on Alican.
He added that technical experts from both sides met last year to discuss the possibility of reopening railway links, and that expert groups are continuing their work and are expected to meet again in the near future.
Kostanyan said the worsening regional security environment should serve as an added motivation for Armenia and Türkiye to open the border.
“This should strengthen stability in the region,” he said.
He also noted that the border, closed since 1993, has occasionally opened for humanitarian purposes, including after the earthquake, when it was used for search and rescue teams and aid deliveries to Türkiye and Syria.
He said the border has too often opened only in times of crisis and argued that it should be fully open in times of prosperity as well.
Iran war and Hormuz crisis raise urgency of border opening
Kostanyan linked the importance of the Armenia-Türkiye border directly to the regional fallout from the war involving Iran.
He said Armenia has not yet faced major immediate difficulties because of the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz and the U.S. blockade, despite its large trade volume with Iran.
But he warned that over the longer term, the consequences could affect the whole region, including both Armenia and Türkiye.
“For this reason, in this context, the opening of the border between Armenia and Türkiye is very important,” he said. “This could be an important gain for both countries and a very important factor for stability not only in the South Caucasus but in the wider region.”
Asked about Iran’s warning that it could halt maritime trade in the Gulf and Red Sea if the blockade continues, Kostanyan said such developments would create turbulence not only for the region but on a global scale.
He said Armenia hopes negotiations between the parties will produce positive results.
Armenia says diplomacy is only way forward
Addressing the broader regional crisis, Kostanyan emphasized that stability remains critical for Armenia’s national interests.
He characterized the United States as a strategic partner while identifying Iran as another vital collaborator for the nation. Regarding ongoing regional tensions, Kostanyan expressed Armenia’s hope that all parties can reach a final agreement, maintaining that diplomacy is the sole path forward.
“We believe that the only way to overcome differences is through a diplomatic solution,” he affirmed. He further noted that Armenia appreciates international efforts to bring opposing sides together to seek resolutions for long-standing and complex issues.
Border opening seen as economic and logistics opportunity
Kostanyan said direct trade, tourism and connectivity could create major opportunities for the region.
He said new economic and logistical networks stretching between Europe, Central Asia and China could be important for regional development.
He also referred to the project he called TRIPP, or “Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity,” saying that agreed terminology should be preserved.
According to Kostanyan, the agreements reached in Washington on Aug. 8 are important and backed by the U.S., and all sides need to remain committed to that peace declaration.
He said the two key elements of that declaration are inclusiveness and preserving the agreed terminology.
Armenia says no legal obstacle to peace deal with Azerbaijan
Turning to Armenia-Azerbaijan relations, Kostanyan said he sees no legal obstacle to signing the agreed peace treaty between the two countries.
He said constitutional questions are an internal Armenian matter.
“Since 2018, discussions on a new constitution have continued, and the government plans to publish the draft text soon,” he said.
He also said the upcoming June 7 parliamentary election in Armenia will be the first election held in a period of peace with Azerbaijan, and described that as notable given the deterioration in the wider regional security environment.
Kostanyan said relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan are moving in a positive direction and that the calm border carries symbolic and practical importance.
He also said it was meaningful that the foreign ministers of the two countries reaffirmed their commitment to peace when the developments around Iran began.
Armenia says transport opening already agreed
On the issue of the Zangezur corridor, which he referred to by its new name, the “Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity,” Kostanyan said he does not view it as a demand because an agreement had already been reached on Aug. 8.
He said both Armenia and Azerbaijan attach great importance to reopening communication lines and that the process is drawing interest from Türkiye, the broader region and global actors.
He added that Armenia is working with the United States on implementation and said a joint Armenian-American initiative is planned.
According to Kostanyan, the implementation framework was adopted on Jan. 13, feasibility studies are underway, a U.S. company has taken on the process, financing work is continuing, and presentations for international investors are expected soon.
Armenia says it is ready for diplomatic ties and ambassadors
Asked when diplomatic relations with Türkiye would be formally established and when ambassadors might be appointed, Kostanyan said Armenia is ready.
He said if the matter depended only on Armenia, the process could have been completed even yesterday.
“If it depended only on Armenia, this process could have been completed even yesterday,” he said.
He added that Armenia is determined to achieve full normalization with Türkiye and said that many names would be ready to seek an ambassadorial role once diplomatic relations are established.
For now, he said, normalization must move forward as a two-sided process.
https://www.turkiyetoday.com/region/armenia-says-it-is-ready-to-open-border-with-turkiye-awaits-ankaras-move-3218272
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Russian Nuclear Staff From Iran’s Bushehr Plant Return Home Via Armenia
By PanARMENIAN
A group of employees from Iran’s Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant returned to Russia via Armenia as part of an ongoing evacuation effort, according to the Russian Embassy in Armenia.
On April 15, another 94 Russian citizens were evacuated through Armenian territory.
They arrived in Armenia from Iran via the Norduz–Agarak border crossing and then departed for their homeland, the embassy said.
Along with the Russian citizens, Belarusian nationals were also evacuated and flew from Yerevan to Moscow on a special flight.
“We thank the authorities of the Republic of Armenia for their prompt response and assistance in organizing the comfortable transit of Rosatom State Corporation employees,” the statement said.
Earlier, 175 Russian employees of the Bushehr nuclear power plant had already been evacuated through Armenia.
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Armenian Prime Minister Talks Up Relations With Russia
RUSSIA’S PIVOT TO ASIA
Published on April 17, 2026
Armenia and Russia have reached strategic agreements to develop cooperation in various fields, the Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has stated, saying “My last visit to Moscow (April 1) was very successful. We had very lengthy and detailed discussions and reached strategic agreements to develop cooperation in very different areas, whose results all of us will see soon.” He was addressing the Armenian Parliament on Wednesday (April 15).
He stated that relations between Armenia and Russia are at the highest level, as they have never been before, adding “Look at the dynamics of the meetings between the leaders of Armenia and Russia and compare them to previous periods. I am in full-scale working contact with both the Russian president and prime minister, which imparts a special meaning to these contacts. Armenia has not argued, is not arguing, and will not argue with Russia. Any attempts to entangle us in a confrontation with Russia, whether economic or political, will fail. We are guided by our country’s interests, and it is in our country’s interests to maintain good relations with Russia.”
Armenia is looking for Russian investment to boost its nuclear energy sector, while bilateral trade has been somewhat erratic, mainly due to the threat of secondary sanctions on Yerevan. However, Moscow remains Yerevan’s principal trading and investment partner, accounting for over 37% of Armenia’s exports in 2025, with cooperation concentrated in consumer goods, food production, and key industrial sectors. Bilateral trade reached US$6.4 billion last year.
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Türkiye-Armenia Border Reopening: A Turning Point For The South Caucasus
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How Russia Is Meddling in Armenia’s Upcoming Elections
Moscow is looking to block US progress in creating a Caucasian trade corridor.
The war with Iran has consumed Washington’s bandwidth for the last month and a half. But the conflict has distracted from more than Ukraine. In the South Caucasus, Russian President Vladimir Putin is waging a quiet campaign to reverse one of the Trump administration’s signature foreign policy achievements—the Armenia-Azerbaijan peace deal—and doing so on the cheap.
The centerpiece of that deal is the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP). This transit corridor would link Azerbaijan to its exclave, Nakhchivan, through Armenian territory and open a land bridge from Central Asia to global markets, bypassing both Russia and Iran. TRIPP is more than infrastructure. It is America’s foothold in the South Caucasus and the key to unlocking Central Asia’s vast rare-earth reserves—resources essential for smartphones, electric vehicles, and advanced weapons systems—at a moment when the United States relies on China for roughly 70 percent of those critical imports.
Armenia holds parliamentary elections on June 7. The vote is a referendum not just on Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s government but on the country’s geopolitical orientation—West or Russia, peace or managed conflict. If TRIPP becomes reality, Russia loses its chokehold on Caucasus trade routes and its leverage over two former colonies.
The campaign is brazen. At an April 1 meeting in Moscow, Putin personally lobbied Pashinyan to allow dual Russian-Armenian citizens to run in the election—a pointed reference to Samvel Karapetyan, the Russia-based billionaire funding the opposition “Strong Armenia” party, under house arrest on money laundering charges and allegations of plotting a coup. Putin added, with undisguised menace, that Russia has “many friends in Armenia—many.”
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov subsequently declared that Moscow “reserves the right” to discuss Armenia’s elections, as though the internal affairs of a sovereign nation were a matter for Russian approval. Deputy Prime Minister Alexei Overchuk warned that Armenia is approaching a “point of no return” and threatened to restructure economic relations—bureaucratic language for punishment.
The threats are already being carried out. Moscow has reportedly banned enterprises and cultural organizations linked to the Pashinyan government from operating in Russia. Armenian agricultural exports face escalating restrictions—dairy bans, broader import curbs, and a devastating blow to the flower trade. Russia withheld millions in prepaid arms deliveries. Karapetyan—from house arrest—warns Armenians that electing Pashinyan means “poverty and enmity with Russia,” while promising that his party will “befriend all countries.”
One detail has gone largely unnoticed. As one Armenian parliamentarian recently observed, Armenians in Russia are now the only group in the entire country permitted to hold public demonstrations—and only when Armenian officials visit, and only against them. That Moscow organizes and permits these protests while crushing all other forms of public dissent tells you everything.
But the most dangerous weapon in Moscow’s arsenal is information warfare. Russian-aligned disinformation targeting Armenia has surged since late 2025, according to local fact-checkers. The playbook is familiar from Moldova, Romania, and the United States itself: cloned websites mimicking legitimate media, coordinated social media amplification, and anonymous Telegram channels pumping out fabricated stories.
The narratives exploit sensitive domestic issues: allegations of secret territorial concessions, claims that Western countries are conducting experiments on Armenian citizens, and friction between the government and the Armenian Apostolic Church. Church leaders accused by dissidents of maintaining ties to Russian intelligence have turned against the government, providing the Kremlin with an institutional lever that mirrors the role of the Moscow-aligned Orthodox Church in pre-war Ukraine.
Karapetyan, for his part, has retained the lobbyist Robert Amsterdam, whose previous client was Vadim Novinsky—the pro-Kremlin Ukrainian oligarch. That the same operative who championed Russian interests in Kyiv is now working on behalf of Putin’s preferred candidate in Yerevan ought to raise alarms. Meanwhile, Tucker Carlson—who has a well-documented record of amplifying Kremlin narratives—has lent his platform to anti-Pashinyan voices whose messaging dovetails neatly with Moscow’s line on Armenia. The effect is a pincer that squeezes the Armenian government from every direction.
As Pashinyan himself has warned, if a Kremlin-backed candidate wins in June, the peace process with Azerbaijan collapses. A pro-Russian government in Yerevan would revive the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict as a tool of leverage—exactly as Moscow did for three decades, playing both sides to keep them dependent and divided. TRIPP dies. And with it dies American access to the Middle Corridor.
The Iran conflict provides the opening. With Tehran weakened and the broader Middle East in flux, the South Caucasus matters more, not less.
First, Washington should publicly reaffirm support for Pashinyan. Visible diplomatic backing raises the cost of Russian interference. When the EU’s enlargement commissioner visited Yerevan, pledged €140 million, and affirmed support for Armenia’s integration into the Trans-Caspian transport corridor, it sent a signal. The United States should send a louder one.
Second, invest now. Armenia’s budding AI sector and its educated, English-speaking workforce make it a natural candidate for American technology partnerships. Investment announcements before the election would show Armenian voters that the Western path delivers tangible benefits, not just promises.
Third, accelerate TRIPP. Moving the corridor from the conceptual phase to the construction phase demonstrates that the peace dividend is real. Every month of delay is a month Moscow can use to convince Armenians that the West offers nothing but words.
Russia’s hybrid warfare against Armenia is not a sideshow. It is a direct assault on an American-brokered peace deal, on a transit corridor vital to US supply chains, and on the sovereignty of a nation trying to chart its own course. If the administration looks away from the South Caucasus for two more months, it may find that Putin has already won.
Joseph Epstein is the director of the Turan Research Center, a senior fellow at the Yorktown Institute, an expert at the N7 Foundation, and a research fellow at the Begin Sadat Center for Strategic Studies at Bar Ilan University. He also sits on the advisory board of the Alekain Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to providing education to women and girls in Taliban-controlled Afghanistan. He specializes in Eurasia and the Middle East, and his work has been featured in various outlets such as Newsweek, The Wall Street Journal, The Hill, the Atlantic Council, Novaya Gazeta, RFE/RL, Foreign Policy, and others.
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