Armenia admits warning Iranians over protests

YEREVAN, Armenia (MNTV) — Armenia’s National Security Service said it warned Iranian nationals living in the country against demonstrating outside Iran’s embassy in Yerevan, amid ongoing protests linked to unrest in the Islamic Republic.

The NSS did not deny reports that Iranian expatriates were summoned and cautioned over their participation in demonstrations supporting anti-government protests in Iran, which were triggered by spiralling inflation and a sharp fall in the national currency.

Dozens of Iranians have staged near-daily protests outside the embassy this month, condemning the violent suppression of the unrest. Some demonstrators have openly called for the overthrow of Iran’s leadership and the restoration of the monarchy.

Iran’s ambassador to Armenia, Khalil Shirgholami, sharply criticised Armenian authorities on 14 January for allowing the gatherings, warning that there is a growing perception in Tehran that “Armenia is becoming a serious centre for the actions of forces hostile to Iran.”

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said the following day that Yerevan would address Iran’s concerns.

“We will closely monitor the situation and take all measures so that no problems arise with the activities of friendly Iran’s embassy,” Pashinyan told a news conference.

While protests continued, Yerevan’s municipal authorities barred Iranian protesters at the last minute from holding a march on 17 January from the embassy to the city centre, citing an Interior Ministry recommendation that the action would disrupt traffic. Riot police also detained several protesters outside the embassy.

Several Iranians, speaking anonymously to RFE/RL’s Armenian Service, said they were summoned by the NSS and warned not to take part in the demonstrations, with some alleging they were threatened with arrest and deportation.

The NSS later confirmed the summons in a written statement, saying its actions were part of “counter-intelligence and crime-fighting functions” mandated by law, without providing further details.

Shirgholami’s criticism came hours after Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan met U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Washington to discuss Armenia’s controversial plan to open a U.S.-administered transit corridor for Azerbaijan along Armenia’s border with Iran. The Iranian envoy reiterated Tehran’s concerns over the proposed route, known as the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity, or TRIPP.

Pashinyan said Armenia would continue to “take into account” Iran’s concerns, reiterating assurances that Yerevan “will not take steps against Iran’s state security.”