A top Iranian general highlighted the “strategic importance” of Iran’s border with Armenia on Wednesday, as the two neighboring countries launched their first-ever joint military exercise along the frontier—an unmistakable signal to regional actors eyeing the sensitive Syunik corridor.
“This joint exercise is a proactive measure to ensure the combat readiness of our forces, confront terrorism, and contribute to sustainable peace in the region,” said Brigadier General Valiollah Madani of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), speaking to Iranian media from the site of the drills.
While details remained limited, the two-day exercise is centered around a simulated joint operation by Iranian and Armenian special forces to repel hypothetical “terrorist groups” attempting to breach the border. Though neither side disclosed troop numbers, Madani confirmed the participation of the IRGC’s 31st Ashura Operational Division, calling the unit an example of “operational excellence.”
The timing and location of the exercise have not gone unnoticed in Yerevan, where concerns have grown over a possible Azerbaijani military thrust through southern Armenia to create a land link with the Nakhichevan exclave. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, backed by Ankara, has repeatedly threatened to force open the so-called “Zangezur corridor”—a plan that would sever Armenia’s direct land connection with Iran.
Aliyev escalated rhetoric again this week, warning of a “new military confrontation” unless Armenia accepts Baku’s terms for a peace deal. For many observers, this amounts to diplomatic blackmail cloaked in peace-talk language—something Iran appears unwilling to tolerate.
Tehran has long been wary of any regional realignment that would compromise its access to Armenia or tip the balance further in Turkey and Azerbaijan’s favor. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi made this clear during a March visit to Yerevan, reiterating Tehran’s categorical opposition to any forced corridor that bypasses Iranian territory.
General Madani echoed that concern on Wednesday, stressing that “the strategic importance of our border with Armenia cannot be overstated,” especially given the region’s increasingly volatile geopolitics.
As regional tensions mount, the deepening of military cooperation between Armenia and Iran reflects a growing awareness in both capitals that stability in Syunik is not just a national interest—but a red line.
