Reza Hojjat Shamami, in an interview with the website of the Strategic Council on Foreign Relations, referred to the proposal of a mechanism known as ‘3+3 Group’ to resolve issues in the Caucasus region by focusing on security, economic relations and transportation, and cited existence of a conflict of approach among countries in the Caucasus region as the challenges of that region and regarding Armenia’s strategy in connection with that mechanism stated: the political structure and the approach Background of Armenia has been Russia-centered and it is basically a strategic ally of Russia; but in the current situation, with the presence of Pashinyan in power, the country is in conflict with the approach.

Referring to the handover of parts of Armenia to the Republic of Azerbaijan in the Second Karabakh War, he added: What happened in that war was in fact punishment of Armenia; Russia, in a way, announced that countries that are laying the groundwork for NATO to expand it eastward will lose their national status.

The analyst of Caucasus affairs noted: On the one hand, Armenia has noticed Russia’s punitive action and has understood its needs to Iran. In addition, it knows that if he does not engage in diplomacy within the framework of 3+3, it may face more challenges; as some extremists in the Republic of Azerbaijan believe, the “Syunik” Province of Armenia belongs to the Republic of Azerbaijan and must be returned to it!

Referring to Armenia’s pro-Western cultural tendencies and its historical proximity to Europe, Hojjat Shamami also noted: Armenia’s relations over the past 30 years have formed a strategic link with Russia and we are witnessing some analysis of the future expansion of Russian domination in Armenia.

Common strategies, concerns of Iran, Armenia, Russia

Saying that Armenia has approached Iran because of its current concerns, especially about Syunik Province, he continued: Russia will never allow Turkey to join the territory of the Republic of Azerbaijan and then Central Asia, which will allow easy access of NATO to the Caspian Sea; because with this action, it will give its close foreign sphere to Turkey and NATO. Therefore, Iran, Armenia and Russia have common strategies and concerns in this regard.

Explaining the positions of the Republic of Azerbaijan towards Turkey and the Zionist regime, the expert on Caucasus affairs said: The country has gained more confidence after the recent war and wants to connect itself by any means, and with regard to the strategy and recommendations of NATO, to Turkey through creating a corridor in Armenia, which will face opposition of the countries in the region. This country believes that when it can give its gas and energy to the Zionist regime and buy weapons from that regime, with the same imagination, it can both put some kind of pressure on Iran and claim territorial annexations.

Referring to the efforts of the Republic of Azerbaijan to gain the support of Turkey, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, the Zionist regime, Europe and the Pakistani army, Hojjat Shamami added: In this situation, Turkey, due to its position in Europe, has turned to neo-Ottomanism and seeks to strengthen the Turkish Council and wants to join the Republic of Azerbaijan and from there connect to the Turkic-speaking countries of Central Asia through the Caspian Sea. Therefore, Turkey in the 3+3 mechanism will probably seek to pursue this strategy.

At the same time, he clarified: it should be kept in mind that two edges of the scissors play a role in this issue; because, on the one hand, Iran and on the other hand, Russia will not allow this, and in case of the establishment of this link by the Republic of Azerbaijan, Russia will suffer a lot. Russia is strongly opposed to NATO, so it will pursue the same policy seriously against Turkey.

Emphasizing the need for joint steps to resolve the region’s problems within the framework of the 3+3 mechanism, Hojjat Shamami continued: Russia is a waiting and smart spectator, and the more challenging this region is, the more Russia will wait for a bigger hunt. In fact, rather than worrying about some geopolitical changes, the Republic of Azerbaijan should be worried that if it wants to arouse Russia’s concerns with some pro-Western approaches, it may face the same problems that Georgia and Ukraine have faced with.

Need for continuous consultations between Iran, Russia in 3+3 mechanism

While emphasizing the need for continuous consultations between Iran and Russia in the 3+3 mechanism and coordination of positions, especially regarding the differences between the two countries’ views on the nature of geopolitical changes in the region, the expert added: Russia does not take the Zionist regime seriously; because it has the power to control it. In the 2008 war, when much of Georgia’s intelligence resources and drones were provided by the Zionist regime, Russia changed the equation by entering its own tanks, but in any case, the links between Russia and the Zionist regime must also be taken into account.

Hojjat Shamami pointed to the discovery of uranium in Armenia’s Syunik Province and Turkey’s interest in those mineral resources, as well as the country’s efforts to increase its nuclear resources, and said: Given the current situation, Turkey is forced to ignore escalation of tensions that lead to war; because the country’s economy is experiencing several crises in the run-up to another election. The war is destroying the country’s economy, and NATO will not pay for it. In fact, Turkey will fail in connecting to the Republic of Azerbaijan either in territorial and official or through Nakhchivan corridor.

Regarding Georgia’s position in the 3+3 mechanism, he stated that the country has an opposite view of Russia and Iran, adding: Georgia needs Iran’s economic and transportation corridors to Europe, but because it is wounded by Russia and sees itself as a link with Turkey, Azerbaijan and the Zionist regime, it stands by Russia and Iran in the 3+3 mechanism and has announced that although it would be difficult for it to participate in the regional cooperation format along with Russia, it would still be involved in the project.

The analyst of Caucasus affairs stressed that there are more rapprochement ties between Russia, Armenia and Iran and stressed: Iran should establish geopolitical ties in all its negotiations and actions in the region and attract the attention of countries economically and geopolitically.

Regarding the 3+3 countries’ strategy towards the presence of trans-regional players in the Caucasus, Hojjat Shamami said: In the current situation, the Zionist regime has transferred its policy of increasing tension from the Middle East to the Caucasus and provided modern and state-of-the-art weapons to Aliyev. We must see the growing role of the Zionist regime in the policy of increasing tension in this region; unless it cannot direct the players. The Zionist regime will definitely not abandon its presence in this region, and from this perspective, this presence is considered a challenge for Iran.