America News Agency

Iranian Foreign Minister Saeed Abbas Araghchi took the unusual step of rebuking Russia after Moscow sided with Azerbaijan over calls for a land corridor along the Armenia-Iran border that it fears could limit Tehran's access to Europe and the wider world.

"Regional peace, security and stability are not just a choice, but a pillar of our national security. Any threat to the territorial integrity of our neighbours from the north, south, east or west, or the redrawing of borders, is completely unacceptable and a red line for Iran," Araghchi said in a statement on X.

Russia and Iran are expected to sign a new strategic cooperation agreement. However, its content is still up for debate, and there are tensions within the Iranian government over the diplomatic cost of deepening its military alliance with Russia, which has seen Iranian-made drones used against cities in Ukraine.

Iran also summoned Russian ambassador Alexey Dedov earlier this week to voice its dissatisfaction with Moscow’s stance, saying it did not want Moscow to provoke a conflict on its border.

Araghchi’s comments clearly reference Moscow’s decision to support Azerbaijan’s call for an east-west corridor through Armenia to the Nakhchivan exclave in western Armenia.