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Armenpress.am

 

Armenian Prime Minister and newly elected Iranian President hold telephone talk

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YEREVAN, JULY 9, ARMENPRESS. The Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan, had a telephone conversation with the newly elected President of Iran, Masoud Pezeshkian.

Nazeli Baghdasaryan, the press secretary of the Armenian Prime Minister, said on social media.

The Prime Minister of Armenia congratulated the President of Iran on his victory in the elections and wished him an effective tenure.

The interlocutors reaffirmed their commitment to the agreements previously reached at the interstate level.  The parties agreed to meet at an upcoming opportunity.

 

https://armenpress.am/en/article/1195388?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR0C9zjeMHalF1DRkQCheU5AEQ-hZyZuktnhXgeD_p7IWgrTYVaos5jzw14_aem_mURJ7qnEFsvWYWCj8pwcDA

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Armenpress.am

 

Next 3+3 meeting scheduled to take place in Turkey soon - Sobhani

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YEREVAN, JULY 19, ARMENPRESS. Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the Republic of Armenia Mehdi Sobhani said that the next meeting of the cooperation platform in the South Caucasus in the 3+3 format (Armenia, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Iran, Russia, Turkey) will be held in Turkey in the near future. Mehdi Sobhani stated this in an interview with SNN․

Regarding the Iranian consulate in Kapan, Ambassador Sobhani highlighted that it has enhanced cross-border communications and effectively addresses local issues as they arise.

He said that the Consulate General of Iran in Kapan effectively contributed to increasing the number of people who took part in the presidential elections of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

According to Sobhani, Iranian drivers working in Kapan were able to take part in the elections, and this shows the importance of the Consulate in the affairs of Iranians living in Armenia. According to him, the Iranian consulate is also organizing Persian courses for the local population and Armenian customs officers.

Regarding relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan, Ambassador Sobhani once again confirmed Tehran's vision on this issue. “Our position regarding the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is quite clear: we support the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan and Armenia and are against changing international borders and any geopolitical changes in the region.” 

He added that security and stability in the region are in Iran's interests, and Tehran is ready to provide support in this direction.

Sobhani recalled that Iran proposed the idea of the 3+3 format, and holding the first meeting was one of the achievements of the 13th government.

“For the first time, the meeting of foreign ministers of this platform was held in Tehran. The next meeting will take place in the near future in Turkey,” said the Iranian Ambassador to Armenia.

 

 

 

Published by Armenpress, original at https://armenpress.am/en/article/1196057?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR28lnXQuDiBfncXrS8l2UmJztKkTjH0XT4AUwYMcueY_FkoGHy8wBljDzE_aem_X28j_TWxa_ChA0bAfrPpOQ

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Iran International

July 24 2024

 

EXCLUSIVE

Iran and Armenia  sign secret $500-million arms deal

2 hours ago

Negar Mojtahedi

Canadian Iranian journalist and documentary filmmaker

Iran and Armenia have signed a major arms deal worth $500 million, a source familiar with the situation told Iran International, in a move that could anger Azerbaijan as Tehran supplies Yerevan its infamous suicide drones.

Armenia and Azerbaijan have fought two major wars since the collapse of Soviet rule in the early 1990s, with Azerbaijan retaking large chunks of its territory in 2020. Its forces last year captured the region of Nagorno-Karabakh, the chief focus of the long-running conflict.

Iran has repeatedly warned that it will not tolerate any changes to international borders in the region.

The reported agreement has been broken up into several contracts and was signed in the past few months, according to the source, who is a senior military official in the Middle East. Iran International has not identified them for their protection.

Iran International has obtained an exclusive list of the military items Iran is set to supply Armenia. That includes drones such as Shahed 136, Shahed 129, Shahed 197, Mohajer, and air defense missile systems like 3rd Khordad, Majid, 15th Khordad, and Arman.

This deal has not been reported before. The foreign and defense ministries of Iran and Armenia did not respond to Iran International’s separate requests for comments.

Farzin Nadimi, an arms expert from the Washington Institute, said a deal of this scale is substantial for the caucus nation.

“Iran has sold Armenia drones [before] for example, and some other arms, but nothing at this scale,” said Nadimi.

Armenia’s Ministry of Finance reported that defense spending in 2024 increased by 81% as compared to 2020. Armenia’s defense budget in 2024 was about $1.4 billion, so the amount being allocated to Iran through this deal, is about a third of that budget. It is not known how Armenia can afford this, but some analysts believe loan payments could be an option.

The Iran-Armenia arms deal goes beyond supplying suicide drones and air defense missiles. It also involves intelligence cooperation, close military relations, training, and the establishment of bases on Armenian soil, the source has revealed to Iran International.

“I don’t think the region will be happy. I don’t think the United States will be happy,” said Nadimi.

The source said that security cooperation between the two countries, including advancing arms deals, had been discussed during the visits of high-level delegations and technical teams from Iran in recent months.

Iran-Armenia ties have not come without some controversy.

During an interview with Armenian radio on June 28, Mehdi Sobhani, the Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Armenia sent a bold message to the United States, stating “my message is that they [Americans] should not interfere unnecessarily in the relations between Iran and Armenia.”

Safeguard from Azerbaijan: lessons learned from the war 

Alex Vatanka, the Middle East Institute’s Iran Program director, said Armenians are looking elsewhere, to France, India, the US and Iran for their security needs.

“Armenia is not in a good place militarily. The last few years have not been good for them. They've lost in two major campaigns to their historic nemesis, Azerbaijan. And they have lost confidence in their historic protector Russia,” said Vatanka.

An arms deal between Iran and Armenia would help Tehran to remain relevant in the Caucasus, said Vatanka.

In 2020, after decades of intermittent skirmishes, Azerbaijan launched a 44-day military operation that became known as the ‘Second Karabakh War.’ Several thousand people were killed on both sides.

Military analysts attribute Azerbaijan’s victory, breaking through Armenian defenses, to drones acquired from Turkey and Israel.

From 2016 to 2020, Israel accounted for 69 percent of Azerbaijan’s imports of major arms, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute.

Turkey made up 2.9 percent of Azerbaijan’s imports of major arms, including missiles and armed UAVs, from 2011-2020.

“Armenia wants to catch up on that front. If Iran can provide drones, why not?,” said Vatanka.

The arms deal between Iran and Armenia would go beyond the two nations and impact Iran-Azerbaijan relations especially after Iran elected an ethnic Turkish speaking as president.

“Azerbaijan will be very, very angry about his deal. But Iran wants to show its dissatisfaction with Azerbaijan, as well, because Azerbaijan is a major customer of Israeli weapons. Azerbaijan and Israel have had strategic relationships. I think Iran will use these deals to show Azerbaijan that its relations with Israel would further move Iran toward Armenia,” said Nadimi.

Armenian security analysts, who are in direct contact with the government, declined Iran International for an interview, citing that they don’t believe that a deal of such magnitude exists. Those experts said Armenia is moving closer to the West and wouldn’t risk its relations with the US, for example, over Iran and sanctions violations, believing that to do so would be a public relations disaster for the tiny nation. One Armenian analysts said he heard that Iran is pushing the deal, but that Armenia declined. 

The experts were referring to the Armenian government's efforts to expand ties with the West since Russia became entangled in the Ukraine quagmire. Yerevan has forged military cooperation with France and the United States, including nine days of joint military drills with US forces in July.

The Russian Equation and the War in Ukraine? 

Military expert Frederic Labarre from the Royal Military College of Canada said the massive deal could happen for several reasons. He said it signifies a ‘necessity’ for Armenia to defend itself against Azerbaijan, but it could also be a way for Russia to acquire arms through Armenia.

“It could be a way in which Armenia can still endear itself to Russia by being the go between Iran and Russia, especially in the provision of drones and, such equipment, in such a way that. It will be difficult for Western powers or other powers to pressure Armenia,” he said.

Labarre, who specializes in Russia and Ukraine defense and military, hypothesizes that Armenia may be transferring weapons on behalf of Russia.

https://www.iranintl.com/en/202407248345

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[Yervant1]

IRNA, Iran

July 26 2024

 

Envoy denies rumors on Iran-Armenia military contract

Tehran, IRNA - Iran's Ambassador to Yerevan Mehdi Sobhani has denied the news about the military contract between Iran and Armenia.

Sobhani considered the source of such news to be unreliable media that have a history of publishing false information and biased analyses about the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Sobhani considered the goals of publishing such news to influence the development of friendly relations between Iran and the countries of the region, and emphasized, "The Islamic Republic of Iran supports the establishment of peace and stability, as well as economic development in the Caucasus region."

https://en.irna.ir/news/85549119/Envoy-denies-rumors-on-Iran-Armenia-military-contract

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Իրանի ռազմական օդանավը մտել է Ադրբեջանի տարածք. Բաքուն բողոքի նոտա է հղել

[MosJan]

 

[Yervant1]

IRAN International

July 30 2024

 

 

Iran’s Leader vows stronger ties with Armenia

Iran's Supreme Leader reaffirmed a steadfast commitment to strengthening ties with Yerevan during a meeting with Armenia's Prime Minister, emphasizing mutual benefits.

“We are deeply committed to enhancing our relations with Armenia, and the collaboration between our two nations, founded on mutual interests and independent of policies of others, will continue with unwavering strength,” Khamenei told Nikol Pashinyan on Tuesday.

Last week, Iran International reported that Tehran and Yerevan have signed an arms deal to supply Yerevan with military equipment and training valued at $500 million.

In a meeting preceding Iran's president-elect's swearing-in ceremony in parliament, Khamenei emphasized that the "security and prosperity of nations" are best ensured through self-reliance and fostering close cooperation with neighboring countries.

He stated that the "interference of distant powers" in the internal affairs of other nations "inevitably results in detrimental consequences for the interveners themselves."

After an apparent disappointment with its long-time ally, Russia, Armenia has been forging closer ties with the United States and France in recent months, including joint military drills with US forces in July.

According to a senior Middle Eastern military official, the reported Tehran-Yerevan agreement has been divided into several contracts and signed over the past few months. For security reasons, Iran International has withheld the official's identity.

Iran International has seen a list of military items Iran is purportedly set to supply Armenia, including drones such as the Shahed 136, Shahed 129, Shahed 197, and Mohajer, as well as air defense missile systems like the 3rd Khordad, Majid, 15th Khordad, and Arman.

The Iran-Armenia arms deal reportedly extends beyond providing suicide drones and air defense missiles. It encompasses intelligence cooperation, close military relations, training, and the establishment of bases on Armenian soil, the source disclosed to Iran International.

Following the report's publication, Armenia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs did not deny the deal in its official email response to Iran International. "Armenia is currently diversifying its security relations within the framework of international law. We don't have any further comment on this," stated a spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia. Meanwhile, Iran's ambassador to Armenia, Mehdi Sobhani, denied the report.

Azerbaijan Republic is seeking a land corridor through Armenia to connect with the Azerbaijani enclave of Nakhichevan.

Khamenei says that Iran considers the Zangezur corridor “detrimental” to Armenia and “maintains a firm stance” on this issue.

"We are strongly committed to developing relations with Armenia, and cooperation between the two countries will continue robustly based on defined interests, without regard for the policies of others," Khamenei added during the meeting with Pashinyan.

https://www.iranintl.com/en/202407300680

[Yervant1]

Armenpress.am

 

Iranian President expresses readiness to negotiate with the West to ease tense relations

Read the article in: فارسیՀայերենРусский

 

 YEREVAN, JULY 30, ARMENPRESS. The newly elected president of Iran, Masoud Pezeshkian, announced during his inauguration ceremony that he is ready to negotiate with the West to ease strained relations, reports TASS.

"We call on Western countries to understand the importance of building relations based on mutual respect and equality. We are ready to hold negotiations to resolve tensions with those states that haven’t yet recognized Iran's position in the world," said Iran’s newly elected president.

 

 

 

Published by Armenpress, original at https://armenpress.am/en/article/1196738?fbclid=IwY2xjawEWW1FleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHWHee97BnKYLZ0LTLDf5C8uoPSkyO4-aX7pfgtnWoG3ojrbdxg0TzKRKhQ_aem_nJh21CryChGRVbdXsN5l1g

[Yervant1]

Azatutyun.am

 

Iran’s Khamenei Opposes Azeri Corridor Through Armenia

Հուլիս 30, 2024

 

Iran - Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei meets Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian, Tehran, July 30, 2024.

 

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei reaffirmed on Tuesday Tehran’s strong opposition to Azerbaijan’s efforts to secure a land corridor through Armenia to its Nakhichevan exclave.

Khamenei made that clear at a meeting with Armenia Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian who was visiting Tehran to attend the inauguration of Iran’s new president, Masoud Pezeshkian.

“He emphasized the importance of maintaining the territorial integrity of Armenia and affirmed that the Islamic Republic of Iran views the Zangezur corridor as detrimental to Armenia, reaffirming its steadfast position on this matter,” read a statement posted on Khamenei’s official website.

The statement said Pashinian reiterated, for his part, that the Armenian government also remains opposed to the extraterritorial transport corridor sought by Azerbaijan as well as Turkey. It would pass through Syunik, the only Armenian province bordering Iran. Tehran has repeatedly warned against attempts to strip the Islamic Republic of the common border and transport links with Armenia.

Yerevan has said that people and goods moving between Nakhichevan to the rest of Azerbaijan cannot be exempt from Armenian border controls and that the two South Caucasus states should have only conventional transport links guaranteeing their full control over all transit routes passing through their respective territories.

The Armenian government’s press office made no mention of the issue in its short readout of Pashinian’s meeting with Khamenei. It said the two men expressed confidence that their countries will continue to further deepen their “warm and friendly relations.”

“We are firmly committed to developing relations with Armenia, and the cooperation between the two countries will continue strongly based on defined mutual interests, regardless of the policies of others.” Khamenei was reported to tell Pashinian.

Iran's new President Masoud Pezeshkian meets Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian in Tehran, July 30, 2024.

It was their second meeting in just over two months. Pashinian visited Tehran in late May to attend the funeral of Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi, Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and other officials killed in a helicopter crash.

The Armenian premier also met with Pezeshkian, a moderate reformist who has succeeded Raisi, ahead of his swearing-in ceremony slated for Tuesday.

“My presence here today testifies to our commitment to … stepping up cooperation between Armenia and Iran,” he told the new Iranian president.

According to the official IRNA news agency, Pezeshkian similarly said that Tehran will continue to bolster bilateral ties “as much as possible.”

 

 

https://www.azatutyun.am/a/33056549.html?fbclid=IwY2xjawEWm6VleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHQQODmHXEthyIpDgXlBrwV8V_dk0wtrVsiGrnhcpruMosYhmCw0Hte1mZQ_aem_sPZT33bfvSTHcdzBM2vqag

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[Yervant1]

Azatutyun.am

 

Khamenei Statement On Azeri Corridor Seen As Warning To Pashinian

Հուլիս 31, 2024

• Ruzanna Stepanian

 

Iran - Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian arrives for the inauguration of Iran's new President Masoud Pezeshkian, Tehran, July 30, 2024

 

Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s latest warning against the creation of a land corridor through Armenia to Azerbaijan’s Nakhichevan exclave was addressed to not only Baku but also Yerevan, Armenian analysts said on Wednesday.

In a statement, Khamenei’s official website cited him as telling Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian in Tehran on Tuesday that Iran “views the Zangezur corridor as detrimental to Armenia.”

“Imam Khamenei emphasized that foreign powers should not impose restrictions on the relationships between countries and their neighbors,” added the statement.

The so-called “Zangezur corridor” would connect Azerbaijan to Nakhichevan as well as Turkey through Syunik, the sole Armenian region bordering Iran. Iranian leaders have repeatedly warned against attempts to strip the Islamic Republic of the common border and transport links with Armenia.

Yerevan has rejected, at least until now, Baku’s demands for people and goods moving between Nakhichevan to the rest of Azerbaijan to be exempt from Armenian border controls. Still, Pashinian declared in September 2022 that he is open to outsourcing customs and border administration there to a foreign company.

Armenia - The Armenian flag is hoisted at a military base on the border with Iran, October 7, 2021.

Some Armenian pundits claimed earlier this year that Baku and Yerevan are discussing such an arrangement in their ongoing peace talks. Armenian officials have not confirmed or denied that,

“There are some preliminary agreements between Armenia and Azerbaijan that some private international organization should control the so-called corridor,” Sergei Melkonian, an analyst with the APRI Armenia think-tank, told RFE/RL’s Armenian Service. “It would not be called a corridor but they understand very well in Iran that it will be a corridor.”

“At first, some international private company will control it. Then there will be some sort of joint control. Then little by little Azerbaijan will carry out a resettlement [of ethnic Azerbaijanis] there, and Iran will lose its border [with Armenia,]” Melkonian said, commenting on Khamenei’s statement.

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and new President Masoud Pezeshkian attend an endorsement ceremony in Tehran, July 28, 2024.

Dzyunik Aghajanian, a retired Armenian diplomat critical of Pashinian’s administration, likewise claimed that outsourcing border control in Syunik would be the first step towards eventual Azerbaijani-Turkish control of the transport links to Nakhichevan and the effective elimination of the Armenian-Iranian border.

“That means [from Tehran’s perspective] being encircled by enemy powers, something which Iran obviously cannot accept,” said Aghajanian.

The Armenian government’s press office did not cite Khamenei’s warning or the corridor issue as a whole in its short readout of Pashinian’s meeting with Iran’s top leader. It said the two men expressed confidence that their countries will continue to further deepen their “warm and friendly relations.”

The Azerbaijani demands for the extraterritorial corridor are strongly backed by Turkey. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on July 13 described the opening of the corridor as “the final step” towards an Armenian-Azerbaijani peace treaty.

 

 

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Crown Prince of Iran Says Islamic Regime Weaker Than Ever, and the People Are Ready to Revolt

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can it happen ??

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Hamas leader was killed by explosive device planted months before explosion, source says

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[Yervant1]

Armenpress.am

 

Blinken told G7 Iran and Hezbollah could attack Israel in next 24 hours - Axios

Read the article in: ՀայերենРусскийTürkçe

YEREVAN, AUGUST 5, ARMENPRESS. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken told his counterparts from the G7 countries on Sunday that an attack by Iran and Hezbollah against Israel could start as early as Monday, Axios reported citing three sources who were briefed on the call.

Iran and its ally Hezbollah have vowed to respond to the assassinations of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran and Hezbollah military commander Fuad Shukr in Beirut.

The U.S. Secretary of State told his counterparts “It’s unclear what form the retaliation will take,” according to Axios. He said the U.S. doesn't know the exact timing of the attacks but stressed it could start as early as the next 24-48 hours.

Blinken asked the other foreign ministers to apply diplomatic pressure on Iran, Hezbollah and Israel to maintain maximum restraint.

He also told the G7 foreign ministers that the boosting of U.S. forces in the region was for defensive purposes only, according to the report.

One source who was on the call said Blinken “sounded frustrated” when he briefed the ministers on recent talks with Israel over a Gaza hostage and ceasefire deal, noting that the administration felt it was "close to a breakthrough" before the assassination in Tehran. Now a deal is needed more than ever, Blinken added.

 

 

 

Published by Armenpress, original at https://armenpress.am/en/article/1197045?fbclid=IwY2xjawEeoK1leHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHe1DFZBnMM2uNwe0OXFAxDtT7jDAql_UsbcBbm8dOS9crglga2f1qGqyjQ_aem_ThJ4fWNtDmbqqUDTeWAsGw

[Yervant1]

Armenpress.am

 

Iran closes significant part of its airspace

Read the article in: ՀայերենქართულიРусский

 

YEREVAN, AUGUST 5, ARMENPRESS. Iranian authorities are closing significant portions of the airspace over the central, western and north-western regions of the country, said Iran Today.

Moreover, Iran has issued a warning to airlines about expected GPS disruptions in the Tehran area and called on aircraft flying through the western, southwestern, southern and central regions of the country to find alternative routes.

 

 

 

Published by Armenpress, original at https://armenpress.am/en/article/1197105?fbclid=IwY2xjawEeoXJleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHeVkTzRbivHkG9ZU1N0QFaL2z-FYArqr3uwyGmTy4lWaqv1CrTTipuP8GQ_aem_HPBzTuOq_f7AihoL_UEKFg

[Yervant1]

TEHRAN TIMES, Iran

Aug 10 2024

 

 

Navasard festival celebrates Iran-Armenia cultural ties

 

TEHRAN - The third Navasard Festival, a vibrant celebration of the cultural and culinary ties between Iran and Armenia, commenced in Armenia's Sisian region on Saturday, marking a symbol of the longstanding friendship between the two nations.

The festival was inaugurated with the presence of cultural and artistic figures from both countries. During a press conference, held in conjunction with the event, Mekhak Apresyan, the president of the Armenian Tourism Federation, highlighted the festival’s role in strengthening cultural and tourism ties between Iran and Armenia and expressed gratitude for the support from the Iranian Embassy in Yerevan.

He emphasized the festival’s success in previous years in promoting cultural tourism and introducing Iranian attractions to Armenian tourists, reinforcing the friendly relations between the two nations.

As announced by the event organizers, one of the festival’s highlights is a cooking competition between Iran and Armenia, featuring over 20 chefs from each country, showcasing the culinary diversity and richness of both nations.

Moreover, Mohammad Asadi-Movahedi, the Cultural Attaché of the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran underscored the cultural and artistic diversity of the festival, noting the participation of groups from the provinces of Tehran, Isfahan, Hamedan, Tabriz, and Khuzestan.

The attaché emphasized that the festival offers a valuable opportunity for mutual understanding of the cultures and traditions of the two nations.

“This year’s festival features a wide range of activities, including cultural, artistic, and sports programs, as well as cooking demonstrations and an exhibition of Iranian handicrafts,” Asadi-Movahedi noted.
XF/AM

https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/502250/Navasard-festival-celebrates-Iran-Armenia-cultural-ties

[MosJan]

Iran's Zarif resigns as Vice President days after appointment August 12, 2024 - 15:21 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Former Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif announced on August 12 he had resigned from his new position as vice president last week, RFE/RL reports. In a post on X, Zarif cited several reasons for his resignation, including facing pressure after his appointment because his children hold U.S. citizenship. The resignation comes less than two weeks after newly elected reformist President Masud Pezeshkian chose Zarif as his deputy. Zarif, who negotiated the landmark 2015 nuclear deal with major world powers, said he plans to return to academia and focus less on domestic politics.