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YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 8, ARMENPRESS. The interests of Armenia and Iran fully match each other, according to Ehsan Movahedian, international relations specialist, lecturer and Caucasus expert at the Tehran ATU University.
The expert visited Armenia together with fellow analysts and researchers for various meetings and the Armenia-Iran: Cooperation and New Prospects seminar.
In an interview with Armenpress, Movahedian lauded the actively developing cooperation and relationship between Armenia and Iran.
“I am pleased with our growing relationship but I think we should further intensify it. We work in various sectors that are truly important. I think the sector of the economy is one of the most important parts of our cooperation. In my opinion the economic corridors are the basis of economic cooperation of the two countries. Armenia’s aspirations to be in the heart of regional economic routes and the Crossroads of Peace initiative are extremely important both for Armenia and Iran,” the expert said, adding that a part of those economic routes is connected with Iranian territory itself.
Movahedian underscored that the North-South Road Corridor is of great importance for the two countries. He said that Armenia and Iran must work in the direction of improving and developing it, because for Armenia it is the safest path to the Persian Gulf.
“It’s good that Armenia also wants to join the economic route linking East to West, but when we assess the situation, I think the peace treaty between Yerevan and Baku won’t happen soon because we see how Turkey and Azerbaijan are reacting to your initiatives. Therefore, here we have a good option through Iran, Armenia and Georgia. And it is important for all three countries that are linked with each other, support each other, which is important not just for you but also for us,” Ehsan Movahedian said. He added that Iran can connect through Armenia with both the Eurasian region and Central Asia.
Ehsan Movahedian reiterated the importance of Armenia for Iran in this regard, noting “It’s just that some people in Iran do not realize the importance of this connection.”
Speaking about cooperation in the economy, Movahedian pointed out the energy sector where Armenia seeks diversification to end its dependency on Russia. “It is very reasonable because every country should diversify its energy resources. Every country in the world does that. It is very reasonable for Armenia. You can rely more on Iran in this matter. We have an agreement on electricity and gas exchange and we should expand it,” the expert said.
He said Iranians can export various goods to Armenia, and Armenia can export products to Iran and also elsewhere from there.
The other sector of cooperation between the two countries pertains to politics and security, he said.
“Iran and Armenia are two countries whose interests are a 100% match. It is very difficult to find another example in the world when the interests of countries are so much in line with each other. For example, when it comes to corridors, some countries, your neighbor countries, seek passage through Armenian territory but don’t want to respect Armenia’s territorial integrity. They want to obtain corridors and control them. Iran is the only neighboring country and only friend that says it is impossible and unacceptable,” Movahedian said, recalling that Tehran has numerously said it is ready to fight against it because the connection with Armenia is of vital significance for Iran.
The expert warned that Turkey, with support from other countries, is attempting to create a “Turkic World” where the only obstruction is Armenia.
“You have ancient history. You have your civilization, your alphabet, you are the first Christian country in the world. And you are unique in this part of the world. They can’t tolerate this. And we see that some elements in your neighboring countries want to destabilize and somehow change the situation in Armenia. They want to destroy your civilization,” the Iranian expert said.
He highlighted that the Iranian authorities have been preserving the Armenian churches in Iran.
“You know you have hundreds of ancient churches in Iran, and we respect and preserve them. But you can see that other neighbors do not pay attention to this.”
Movahedian once again stressed that Iran supports Armenia’s territorial integrity and is deeply concerned over the narrative of an extraterritorial corridor advanced by some countries seeking to violate Armenia’s territorial integrity.