Brink of war: Armenia-Azerbaijan tensions at breaking point

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan declared on Thursday that the situation along the Armenia-Azerbaijan border remains taut. “Azerbaijan is persistently mobilizing its troops both along the state border with Armenia and in Nagorno-Karabakh,” Pashinyan highlighted during a Cabinet meeting, the Armenpress reports.

In a connected matter, PM Pashinyan on September 14 emphasized the deteriorating humanitarian conditions in Nagorno-Karabakh. Russian aid shipments have been unable to substantially alleviate the dire situation. A convoy of 22 trucks, bearing humanitarian assistance from Armenia and France, remains stranded near Kornidzor, proximate to the Lachin Corridor. Another significant portion of the goods is located in a neighboring area. Pashinyan criticized Azerbaijan's illicit blockade of the Lachin Corridor and asserted the necessity of a sustainable international mechanism for Baku-Stepanakert dialogue.

Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan on September 13 conversed with his Iranian counterpart Hossein Amir-Abdollahian. Following the prior discussion between PM Pashinyan and Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, the foreign ministers deliberated on South Caucasus's stability and security. Mirzoyan accentuated the imperative of restraining escalation on the Armenian border and refocusing Azerbaijan into constructive negotiations. Bilateral relations were also on the agenda, with both parties expressing eagerness to sustain dialogue across platforms.

Reflecting on the past, Armenia's Foreign Ministry issued a statement recalling the recent Azerbaijani assault on Armenia. The Azerbaijani armed forces' aggression in 2021 culminated in the occupation of 150 sq km of Armenian territory. Azerbaijan's acts, including the desecration of Armenian soldiers and numerous ceasefire violations, have escalated tensions. Armenia commends partners who, a year ago, vocalized against Azerbaijan's territorial violations and force utilization. Armenia remains resolute in its call for Azerbaijani armed forces' withdrawal from its territory and advocates for peace and stability in the region.