Over the weekend of July 26–27, Iranian leaders conveyed mixed signals regarding regional cooperation and security. President Masoud Pezeshkian advocated for proactive diplomacy and stronger ties with neighboring countries, while Senior Adviser Ali Akbar Velayati adopted a more confrontational tone.

On July 26, during an unannounced visit to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, President Pezeshkian emphasized the importance of enhancing relations with neighbors, including Türkiye, Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and the Persian Gulf states. He asserted that this approach could lead to significant achievements and urged diplomats to be more proactive. Pezeshkian also highlighted Iran's plans to expand ties with members of BRICS, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, and the Eurasian Economic Union, coordinating policies with key partners like Russia and China while engaging with European nations based on principles of wisdom, dignity, and expediency.

In stark contrast, on July 27, Ali Akbar Velayati, Senior Adviser to the Supreme Leader, condemned the proposed Zangezur Corridor, labeling it a threat to Iran's national unity and territorial integrity. He claimed the project, pursued under the guise of economic development, was part of a broader agenda by regional actors, Western powers, and "pan-Turkist" circles to expand NATO’s influence along Iran's northern borders and encircle both Iran and Russia. Warning that such plans were unacceptable, he stated, "Giving Armenian territory to someone for 100 years is another name for de facto annexation." Velayati praised the current Armenian leadership for defending its sovereignty and declared that the Zangezur Corridor must be eliminated, vowing that Iran would not remain a "spectator of the annexation of its northern borders by NATO." He confirmed that recent military exercises near the border were part of Tehran's "active deterrence" policy against the corridor initiative.