Your trusted source

Armenian opposition MP Andranik Tevanyan has accused the Haykakan Zhamanak daily run by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s family of spreading fake news over Iran’s stance on the deployment of a EU monitoring mission to Armenia’s border with Azerbaijan later this month.

In a report on Thursday, the newspaper claimed Iran “does not oppose the deployment of EU observers or French gendarmes to the Armenian-Azerbaijani border”, citing Iranian Ambassador to Armenia Abbas Badakhshan Zohouri.

Tevanyan, who represents the main opposition Hayastan faction, said in a Facebook post the Iranian diplomat refuted the report in response to his question at an event marking the 44th anniversary of the Islamic Revolution on Friday.

"I said that the conflicts between the regional countries should be settled by themselves. But I did not announce that Iran does not oppose the deployment of EU monitors or French gendarmes to the Armenian-Azerbaijani border,” the Iranian envoy told the Armenian MP.

Tevanyan underscores both Iran and Russia have repeatedly expressed dissatisfaction with the EU engagement in conflict resolution in the South Caucasus, saying it is for the regional countries to deal with them.

“Our strategic ally Russia and friendly Iran are not happy with an EU mission in Armenia. Pashinyan is well aware of this, but he has obligations to fulfil in order to be able to ensure his personal security later,” the opposition MP said.

He also shared a photo with the Iranian ambassador at the event.