Why Does Iran Want to Join the EEU? Political Scientist Armen Petrosyan

According to Arab expert Armen Petrosyan, Iran's membership in the EEU represents a multi-faceted opportunity that will strengthen the country's position both regionally and beyond, positively impacting its economy. During the crisis, EEU countries did not close their markets to one another; what can we expect in 2021?

“Tehran has taken into account the consequences of the Artsakh war and the disruption of previous power, economic, and strategic relationships in favor of the Turkish-Azerbaijani tandem. If these two aspects are deeply considered, the topic of joining the EEU is quite important, and future developments will bring clarity regarding the direction of Iran's accession process,” noted the political scientist in an interview with Sputnik Armenia.

Petrosyan highlights that it is evident that discussions regarding the potential scenario of joining the EEU are occurring in Iran or at least being showcased. This could serve, on one hand, as a political maneuver related to the anticipated negotiations with the USA, but on the other hand, it may also be a sufficiently calculated and conscious step in the context of the new realities already formed in our region.

It is noteworthy that on February 10, upon returning from Moscow to Tehran, the Speaker of Parliament and a representative of the conservative faction, Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, one of Iran's most influential political figures, announced that Iran has begun negotiations to join the EEU, with preliminary work expected to commence in just two weeks.

Additionally, it should be mentioned that in October 2019, a free trade zone agreement was signed between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the EEU.