Armenian Speaker of Parliament reassures Iran of friendly intentions, says TRIPP is win‑win for all
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The Armenian Speaker of Parliament Alen Simonyan allayed on Friday Iran’s concerns regarding the TRIPP connectivity project, which will be launched jointly with the U.S. in Armenia.
Simonyan, a senior member of the ruling Civil Contract party, told reporters that Armenia has never taken—and will not take—any steps against “the friendly people and state of Iran.”
“Armenia has never taken, and will never take, any action against the friendly people or state of Iran, and will not be involved in any such processes,” the Speaker said.
Referring to the TRIPP initiative, Simonyan emphasized that it creates major economic opportunities for all countries in the region, including Iran.
Addressing concerns voiced by Iran, the Speaker of Armenia’s National Assembly said that, in his assessment, those concerns will dissipate once the current internal tensions in Iran are resolved.
“I believe that when the tension that currently exists in their country is resolved in some way, they will see more clearly that no such concern exists,” Simonyan stressed.
Responding to a journalist’s question on whether he sees a risk that the United States could use Armenian territory to carry out actions against Iran, the Armenian parliament speaker said such assessments are exaggerated.
“Iran has dozens of immediate neighbors. The border with Armenia is only 23 kilometers long. During the recent actions [June 22], if I am not mistaken, an aircraft flew from the United States, carried out the operation, and returned,” Simonyan said, adding that the Armenian side remains in constant contact with Iran.
Iran’s Ambassador to Armenia, Khalil Shirgholami, held a press conference on Wednesday amid ongoing demonstrations in Iran. A group of protesters had been gathering outside the Iranian embassy in Yerevan in support of the demonstrations.
The Ambassador said that the protesters outside the embassy were displaying disrespectful behavior and that he had raised the matter with Armenian authorities on multiple occasions.
“Iranian officials are concerned that a group of people is being given the green light to come to the Iranian Embassy and make very disrespectful and offensive statements,” Ambassador Khalil Shirgholami told reporters in Yerevan.
The Ambassador noted that Iran has, at various times, stood by the people and government of Armenia, but the events taking place in front of the embassy will remain in the “historical memory” of the Iranian people.
Answering a question about possible implications for Armenia–Iran relations, the Ambassador said that a perception could form in Tehran that Armenia is becoming a “hub for forces hostile to Iran.”
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan responded to the statement at a press briefing on Thursday, reassuring Iran of Armenia’s friendly intentions.