EXCLUSIVE: Armenia Becomes the Only Escape Route Out of Iran as The Armenian Report Documents Three Days of Border Crossings

As the conflict between Iran and Israel grows more dangerous, a single border crossing in southern Armenia has become the only safe path out of Iran. From June 23 to June 25, The Armenian Report was on the ground in Syunik, documenting the steady stream of people escaping violence, fear, and uncertainty.

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This southern checkpoint in Armenia now serves as the last open door for those trying to flee the war. The Armenian Report’s exclusive footage and interviews reveal the emotional and physical toll of the conflict, as families, foreign citizens, and dual nationals cross into Armenia in search of peace.

The people arriving at the border are not all the same. Some are foreign nationals — including citizens from Europe — who were in Iran for travel or work. As the situation grew more dangerous, they chose to leave through Armenia in order to catch flights home from Yerevan.

Others are Iranians, including women, children, and elderly people, who have simply had enough of the bombing and chaos. They are crossing into Armenia not to move on to other countries, but to find safety in a place that feels calmer and more secure. Some of the people crossing are Armenians who were born or living in Iran. With both Armenian and Iranian citizenship, they are choosing to return to their ancestral homeland for safety.

The Armenian Report spoke with many individuals who opened up about what they left behind — and what they’re hoping to find.

One father, who fled with his wife and young child, described life in Iran during the war.

“We could not find a safe place... life was going on, but not like normal life,” he said. “We just thought about the kids — how they feel mentally, physically. That’s why we left everything behind.”

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Another man expressed his anger and desperation. Speaking directly to U.S. President Donald Trump, he said: “Trump, who are you? You are the president of your country, not the world… Please stop the bombing.” He shouted, “You’re not the president of the world — you are nothing!”

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The interviews, captured during journalist Ani Khachatryan’s time at the border, reveal deep pain — but also hope. One man who had been visiting Iran said, “We came to Iran as tourists. But now, we’re escaping. I’m flying back to London from Yerevan.” Another said, “There is hope now. Maybe peace is coming. Maybe the war will stop.”

While Armenia has become a lifeline for many, the journey doesn’t end at the border. Some people arriving shared concerns about how they were treated once they entered the country.

A Persian-Armenian man told The Armenian Report he was upset to hear that some Iranians had experienced mistreatment in Armenia. “Some Iranians told me they were mistreated... it’s not a pretty look,” he said. One major problem mentioned was price gouging. Several people shared stories about taxi drivers charging high prices to take desperate families from the border to the capital city.

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Over the course of three days, The Armenian Report heard dozens of stories from Iranians, Afghans, Germans, and British citizens. Some crossed into Armenia to catch a flight, others to seek temporary shelter — but all of them carried the same feeling: fear from war and hope for safety.

As one man said, “This is a human situation. People are not engaged in politics. But war is threatening the lives of normal people.”

The Armenian Report will continue to follow these stories in the days and weeks ahead. For now, the Syunik border remains the only way out of Iran — and a place where stories of heartbreak, survival, and hope unfold every hour.

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