Key points about the impact of the military conflict with Iran on the Caucasus

On February 28, 2026, Israel and the United States began striking Iran. Donald Trump announced the start of a large-scale military operation. In response, Iran launched strikes against Israel and American military targets in the Middle East. The escalation of the military conflict provoked mixed reactions in Russia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia.

Russia's Tough Stance

Russia adopted the harshest rhetoric, calling the events "unprovoked aggression" and warning of the risk of global war.

On February 28, 2026, Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council Dmitry Medvedev stated that the United States had not initially planned to negotiate with Iran and called Washington's negotiations with Tehran a sham and a cover for a military strike. "The peacekeeper has once again shown his true colors. All negotiations with Iran are a cover operation. No one doubted that. "Nobody really wanted to negotiate anything," he wrote on social media. 1. Medvedev also commented on the possible development of the conflict. According to the Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council, the outcome of the confrontation will depend on "who has more patience to wait for their enemy's inglorious end."

On March 2, in an interview with TASS, he added that the United States is behaving like pigs in the Middle East, wanting to maintain global dominance. Speaking about European countries, he stated, "Toadyism and vileness. European vassals are wiping their faces with lust and delight after receiving a portion of American-Israeli 'yellow dew' right in their eyes," the politician said. 2.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, in a telephone conversation with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, condemned the "unprovoked armed attack by the United States and Israel on Iran." He also noted that Russia is ready to "facilitate the search for peaceful solutions based on international law, mutual respect, and a balance of interests," including in the UN Security Council. 3.

The Russian Foreign Ministry called the US and Israeli attack on Iran a "reckless move" and condemned the actions of Washington and Tel Aviv. "The aggressors' intentions are clear and have been declared quite openly: to destroy the constitutional order and eliminate the leadership of an undesirable state that has refused to submit to the dictates of force and hegemony." Particularly alarming is the serial nature of the destabilizing attacks carried out by the US Administration over the past few months against the international legal pillars of the world order, including non-interference in internal affairs, renunciation of the threat or use of force, and the peaceful resolution of international disputes. We demand an immediate return to the path of political and diplomatic resolution," the statement reads. 4.

The strikes on Iran were planned under the guise of negotiations with Tehran; the West has already tested this tactic with the Minsk agreements, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova stated on February 28. "There was no talk of Iran withdrawing from the negotiations, no talk of any drastic steps. Accordingly, these strikes were planned, as many have said today both here and abroad, under the cover of those who carried out these strikes allegedly conducting negotiations," she stated. 5.

The news of the death of Iran's spiritual leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, members of his family, and high-ranking Iranian officials as a result of US and Israeli missile and bomb strikes was met in Moscow with outrage and deep regret, the Russian Foreign Ministry stated. "The Russian Federation resolutely and consistently condemns the practice of political assassinations and the 'hunting' of leaders of sovereign states, which contradicts the fundamental principles of civilized interstate relations and grossly violates international law," reads a statement published Sunday on the Foreign Ministry's website. 6.

Vladimir Putin did not comment on the US-Israeli military operation, but he expressed condolences to Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian over the death of Supreme Leader Khamenei. The Russian head of state asked for his condolences to be conveyed to Khamenei's family, noting that his assassination was committed "with a cynical violation of all norms of human morality and international law" and remarked that "in Russia, the ayatollah will be remembered as an outstanding statesman." 7.

Speaker of the Federation Council Valentina Matviyenko also condemned the attacks on Iran, declaring that the events pose a threat to global security. She sent condolences to Tehran over the death of Khamenei. 8.

Chairman of the Federation Council Committee on Foreign Affairs Grigory Karasin described the death of Iran's Supreme Leader, as well as the Chief of the General Staff and the country's Defense Minister, as tragic news for the entire international community. "We are currently dealing with completely different criteria. In other words, instead of the usual political and diplomatic arena, we are dealing with the intoxication of power and permissiveness. "This must be discussed directly and openly." 9.

Russia's Permanent Representative to the UN, Vasily Nebenzya, stated at a UN Security Council meeting that the aggression Iran has suffered "could extend far beyond its borders." He called the Israeli-US military operation "a real betrayal of diplomacy" "in the midst of negotiations, just as happened in June 2025," Nebenzya said. 10.

State Duma Chairman Vyacheslav Volodin stated that what is happening violates all norms of international law. "The State Duma strongly condemns and considers unacceptable interference in the affairs of a sovereign state and the criminal reprisal against its legitimate leader," Volodin said, noting that such actions pose an uncontrollable threat of escalation for the entire region. He emphasized that "there is always room for dialogue; compromises cannot be achieved through aggression." 11.

Azerbaijan balances between two fires

Against the backdrop of worsening relations between Iran and the United States, Baku announced its refusal to allow strikes on its neighboring country, and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev expressed his readiness to help reduce tensions 12. Analysts have deemed Azerbaijan's position on the conflict in Iran pragmatic.

On March 2, Ilham Aliyev expressed condolences to his Iranian counterpart Masoud Pezeshkian over the death of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in the first hours of the military operation, according to the head of state's official website. 13.

Due to the fighting in Iran, bus routes through that country between Baku and the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic have been suspended. The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry recommended that citizens refrain from visitingIran and Israel.

Citizens of various countries, including Russia, have been evacuated from Iran through the Astara checkpoint on the Iran-Azerbaijan border.

Armenia's Cautious Position

Yerevan reacted to the war in Iran extremely cautiously: the authorities limited themselves to expressing concern and condolences, avoiding direct assessments of the actions of the United States and Israel.

On February 28, 2026, Iranians held a demonstration in support of the US and Israeli strikes on Iran in front of the Iranian Embassy in Yerevan.

The Armenian authorities began discussing the events in Iran only on March 1 at a meeting of the Security Council, where a report was presented on the developments around Iran, as well as on the activities of the established interdepartmental working group. groups.

On March 2, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan sent a telegram of deep condolences to Islamic Republic President Masoud Pezeshkian over the deaths of citizens and the country's leadership, including spiritual leader Ali Khamenei. He also praised Khamenei for his "personal role" in developing Armenian-Iranian relations. 14t.

The authorities' actions provoked criticism from the parliamentary opposition that the country's leadership has completely lost its sense of geopolitical reality, preferring to deal with internal pre-election matters.

On the same day, Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan, in a telephone conversation with his Iranian counterpart Seyyed Abbas Araghchi, "expressed condolences to the families of the victims in Iran, emphasizing the importance of reducing tensions and achieving a peaceful settlement." 15.

On March 2, Iran's Ambassador to Armenia, Khalil Shirgolami, announced that the border with Armenia was closed for 24 hours "due to problems with the systems operating at the border."

Georgia Avoids Loud Statements

Tbilisi has also adopted a wait-and-see approach and restrained policy, avoiding any sweeping statements about the war in Iran.

Iranians living in Georgia gathered in front of the country's embassy in Tbilisi on February 28, 2026. They thanked the US President following the strikes on Iran and declared that the regime of Ayatollah Khamenei must be overthrown, Publika reported. "We are happy, thank you to US President Donald Trump, thank you to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu," said protesters holding Iranian and American flags.

On March 2, the Georgian government issued a statement regarding the situation in the Middle East, expressing condolences to both Iran and Israel. "We express our condolences to the Iranian people and the Islamic Republic of Iran, where ongoing military actions have claimed the greatest number of lives, including the Supreme Leader, other political leaders, many innocent civilians, and dozens of children. We express our condolences to our friendly Jewish people and to Israel on the loss of civilian lives as a result of the fighting. The Georgian government expresses its full solidarity with the Persian Gulf countries, with which Georgia enjoys a special partnership," the statement read. 16.

Georgia's fifth president, Salome Zurabishvili, expressed support for the people of Iran on Platform X and accused the Iranian leadership of refusing to negotiate and cruelly treating its own population. 17.

Notes

  1. https://t.me/medvedev_telegram/636
  2. Medvedev called the EU's reaction to Strikes against Iran // TASS, March 2, 2026.
  3. Lavrov, in a conversation with Araghchi, condemned the armed attack by the United States and Israel on Iran // TASS, February 28, 2026.
  4. Statement by the Russian Foreign Ministry in connection with the armed aggression of the United States and Israel against Iran // mid.ru/ru/foreign_policy/news/2083284/
  5. Zakharova compared the West's tactics on Iran with its behavior under the Minsk agreements // TASS, February 28, 2026
  6. Russia strongly condemns the practice of political assassinations and the "hunt" of leaders of sovereign states - Russian Foreign Ministry // Interfax, 01.03.2026.
  7. http://www.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/79238
  8. Matviyenko condemned the US and Israeli attacks on Iran // Lenta.ru, 01.03.2026
  9. Karasin called the news of the death of Iran's supreme leader regrettable // RIA Novosti, 01.03.2026.
  10. Nebenzya called the operation against Iran a betrayal of diplomacy // RIA Novosti, March 1, 2026.
  11. The State Duma condemned interference in Iran's affairs and the reprisal against its legitimate leader // TASS, March 1, 2026.
  12. https://mfa.gov.az/az/news/no05526
  13. https://president.az/ru/articles/view/71738
  14. https://www.primeminister.am/hy/condolence/item/2026/03/02/Prime-Minister-condolence-Iran-Presiden
  15. Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia are exercising caution amid the escalating conflict with Iran // OS-media, 02.03.2026.
  16. The Georgian government issues a statement regarding the situation in the Middle East // 1tv.ge, 02.03.2026.
  17. https://x.com/Zourabichvili_S/status/2027714885023371342
Source: https://www.kavkaz-uzel.eu/articles/421311