Context Armenia–Iran relations

painting of capture of erivan during russo-persian war (1826-1828) russian troops. (by franz roubaud)



the saint stepanos monastery armenian monastery 15 km northwest of jolfa city, east azarbaijan province, northwest iran, situated in deep canyon along aras river. though built in 9th century, st bartholomew built church on same site in 62 ad.


brief history

iran , armenia have been in close contact thousands of years. since antiquity there has been interaction between ancient armenia , persia (iran). armenian people amongst native ethnic groups of northwestern iran (known iranian azerbaijan), having millennia long recorded history there while region (or parts of it) have had made part of historical armenia numerous times in history. these historical armenian regions nowadays include iranian azerbaijan nor shirakan, vaspurakan, , paytakaran. many of oldest armenian chapels, monasteries , churches in world located within region of iran.

armenia conquered persian empire numerous times throughout history, particularly median, achaemenid, parthian, , sassanid empires, , safavid, afsharid, , qajar dynasties. due large cultural , historical ties, armenia considered part of greater iran. armenia , iran enjoy cultural , historical ties go thousands of years.

on behistun inscription of 515 bc, darius great indirectly confirmed urartu , armenia synonymous when describing conquests. armenia became satrap of persian empire long period of time. regardless, relations between armenians , persians cordial.

the cultural links between armenians , persians can traced zoroastrian times. prior 3rd century ad, no other neighbor had influence on armenian life , culture parthia. shared many religious , cultural characteristics, , intermarriage among parthian , armenian nobility common. twelve more centuries, armenia under direct or indirect rule of persians.

what modern day armenia got separated iran russian victory in russo-persian war (1826-1828). loss in 1826-1828 russo-iranian war in first half of 19th century made iran irrevocably cede armenian territories (amongst other territories), made part of concept of iran centuries, imperial russia confirmed in treaty of turkmenchay of 1828. following incorporation russia, armenia stayed within russian sphere until dissolution of soviet union.

nagorno-karabakh war

new peace mediation efforts initiated iranian president, akbar hashemi rafsanjani in first half of 1992, after events in khojaly , resignation azeri president ayaz mutallibov. conducting shuttle diplomacy in armenia , azerbaijan several weeks, iranian diplomats able bring new president of azerbaijan yaqub mammadov , president of armenia levon ter-petrosian tehran bilateral talks on 7 may 1992. tehran communiqué signed mammadov, ter-petrosian, , rafsanjani following agreement of parties international legal norms, stability of borders , deal refugee crisis. however, peace efforts disrupted on next day when armenian troops captured town of shusha , failed following capture of town lachin on 18 may.