Foreign ministers from Iran, Turkey, and Russia are set to convene a meeting with their counterparts from Azerbaijan and Armenia in Tehran on Monday. The focus of the discussions is expected to center around the progress toward a peace agreement between these two South Caucasus neighbors. This meeting is significant as it represents the first gathering of foreign ministers from Russia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan following the rapid offensive launched by Azerbaijani forces in Nagorno-Karabakh in September. It also takes place against the backdrop of escalating tensions in the Middle East.
The Iranian and Russian state media have reported on the upcoming meeting, indicating its significance. The presence of the foreign ministers from these countries underscores their engagement in regional diplomacy and conflict resolution.
One of the notable aspects of this gathering is the desire of the participating countries to address regional issues "without the interference of non-regional and Western countries," as expressed by Iran's foreign ministry. This statement implicitly refers to the United States and the European Union, both of which have been involved in the peace negotiation process between Armenia and Azerbaijan. The extent of their involvement has been a source of tension, particularly for Russia.
Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov is expected to travel to Tehran for the meeting. Russia perceives itself as the security guarantor between Azerbaijan and Armenia. However, the demands and challenges presented by its military intervention in Ukraine have diluted its influence in the region.
Azerbaijan initiated a swift offensive last month to regain control of Nagorno-Karabakh, a region where ethnic Armenians had declared de facto independence in the 1990s. The conflict led to the displacement of over 100,000 ethnic Armenians, and Armenia accused Azerbaijan of conducting ethnic cleansing. In contrast, Azerbaijan maintained that residents were free to stay and become part of Azerbaijan. The two nations have experienced two wars in the past three decades and have yet to reach a lasting peace agreement, despite the continuous efforts of the United States, the European Union, and Russia.
It's worth noting that the so-called 3+3 South Caucasus Platform, which initially held talks in 2021, was designed to include Georgia. However, Georgia announced that it did not intend to participate in the initiative, reiterating this stance by confirming it would not be present at the meeting in Tehran.
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