Iran and Russia have differing interests in the South Caucasus, according to Iranian Ambassador to Armenia, Mehdi Sobhani. In an interview with the New York Times, Sobhani emphasized that while the two countries share some mutual interests, they are not allies. “We are not allies,” he stated. “We have some differences, and we have some mutual interests. It doesn’t mean that we are allied.”

One key point of disagreement between Iran and Russia centers on Azerbaijan's demand for a transport corridor to its Nakhichevan exclave, which would pass through Syunik, the only Armenian region that borders Iran. Iran fears such a corridor would cut off its direct border with Armenia, altering the region's geopolitical landscape.

The tensions between the two countries were highlighted in a statement by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in August, in which he accused Armenia of “sabotaging” a Russian-brokered agreement to create a highway and railway linking Nakhichevan to Azerbaijan via Syunik. In response, Iran summoned Russia’s ambassador to Tehran, warning Moscow against facilitating any “geopolitical changes” in the region.

The New York Times article further explored Armenian concerns over the region’s security, especially in light of potential shifts in U.S. policy towards Iran under a second Donald Trump presidency. Armenian officials worry that if tensions between Iran and Israel escalate into a full-scale war, Iran may be less able to provide security for Armenia, leaving it more vulnerable to Azerbaijani actions.