what is now modern day armenia was relatively recently separated from iran by the russian victory in the russo-persian war (1826-1828). this loss in the 1826-1828 russo-iranian war in the first half of the 19th century made iran irrevocably cede its armenian territories (amongst other territories), which made part of the concept of iran for centuries, to imperial russia as confirmed in the treaty of turkmenchay of 1828. following the incorporation by russia, armenia stayed within the russian sphere until the dissolution of the soviet union.