The Iranian President, Ibrahim Raisi, has expressed his strong disapproval of the Russian peacekeeping forces deployed in Nagorno-Karabakh, the disputed region between Armenia and Azerbaijan. He accused Russia of interfering in the internal affairs of the two countries and violating their sovereignty.
Raisi said that Iran, as a “friendly and brotherly” neighbor of both Armenia and Azerbaijan, was the only legitimate mediator in the conflict. He offered to send Iranian troops to replace the Russian ones and to ensure a “fair and lasting” solution to the crisis.
The Russian Foreign Ministry rejected Raisi’s remarks as “unfounded” and “irresponsible”. A spokesperson said that Russia was acting in accordance with the trilateral agreement signed by Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Russia in 2020, which ended the six-week war over Nagorno-Karabakh. He added that Russia had no intention of withdrawing its peacekeepers, who were playing a “vital role” in maintaining stability and security in the region.