Regional Stability Undermined by External Meddling, Iranian Official Warns
TEHRAN – In a high-level security meeting, a senior Iranian military official highlighted that while peace agreements between regional nations are welcomed, the presence of extra-regional powers, specifically the United States, remains a primary source of instability and concern.
The remarks were made during a meeting in Tehran between Major General Seyed Abdolrahim Mousavi, Chief of the General Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces, and Armen Grigoryan, Secretary of Armenia’s Security Council. The visit, conducted at the invitation of his Iranian counterpart, focused on bolstering bilateral ties and addressing shared regional security interests.
A Welcome for Peace, A Warning Against Interference
General Mousavi opened the dialogue by acknowledging the deep historical and cultural commonalities between Iran and Armenia. He expressly welcomed the peace process between Armenia and Azerbaijan, stating that such agreements are instrumental in bringing peace and security to the region—a development consistently supported by the Islamic Republic of Iran.
However, the General swiftly turned to a pressing concern. “While these positive trends have always been welcomed by the Islamic Republic of Iran,” he stated, “the presence of extra-regional powers, including the United States, is a cause for concern for the region.”
He elaborated that historical realities not only affirm the mutual friendship and goodwill between Iran and Armenia but also confirm the negative role played by the United States in the region. General Mousavi stressed the necessity of establishing necessary mechanisms to reduce these anxieties and preserve regional stability.
Armenian Official Stresses Sovereignty and Bilateral Ties
In response, Secretary Armen Grigoryan emphasized the positively evolving trajectory of relations and cooperation between Yerevan and Tehran. He underscored the critical importance of further strengthening the foundations of this relationship and expanding security collaborations.
Grigoryan also provided an assessment of agreements signed on August 8th, framing them within the context of Armenia’s “Crossroads of Peace” project. A key point of his remarks was a firm emphasis on preserving Armenia’s national sovereignty over the Syunik passage and ongoing efforts to prevent any negative impact of the situation on Armenia’s relationship with the Islamic Republic of Iran.
The meeting concluded with a brief review of existing bilateral military relations, with both sides affirming the necessity of further developing these crucial cooperations to ensure mutual security and regional peace.