Unacceptable to Have Any Extraterritorial Corridor: Armenian Ambassador to Iran

The Armenian ambassador to Iran has emphasized the importance of respect for national sovereignty, stating that any communication route should operate under the sovereignty and jurisdiction of the respective country and be based on the principles of equality and reciprocity.

This statement was made during an interview with the ISNA news agency, where Ambassador Arsen Avagyan discussed the various political, economic, and energy sectors between Tehran and Yerevan.

Avagyan noted the warm and friendly relations between Armenia and Iran, highlighting the necessity of strengthening these ties as outlined in the Armenian government's 2021-2026 program. He expressed confidence in both parties' willingness and political will to deepen their relations.

An indicator of the significance of relations with Iran is Armenia's high-level participation in farewell ceremonies for former Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and the inauguration of the newly elected President Masoud Pezeshkian. During these visits, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan discussed the current state and future possibilities of bilateral cooperation with Iran's top leadership, including Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

Yerevan believes that collaboration with Iran's 14th government will facilitate the realization of previously agreed-upon agreements and the development of new and more ambitious projects.

Regarding Armenia-Iran economic cooperation, Ambassador Avagyan emphasized that while many projects are currently underway, the potential of both countries in this direction is significantly greater, and realizing this can lead to impressive outcomes.

Armenia and Iran are actively cooperating in infrastructure development. Iran's participation in the construction of a 32 km section of the North-South transport project, specifically the Kajaran-Agarak road, is an example of this collaboration. This project holds significant strategic, economic, civilizational, and cultural importance as it will become one of the crucial points linking the North to the South and the Persian Gulf to the Black Sea.

The next step in the development of bilateral economic relations is to increase transport capacity and benefit from the transit potential of both countries. Achieving this goal includes facilitating the free entry of passenger and cargo vehicles into Armenia and Iran, as well as modernizing the Meghri border checkpoint, which has also been commissioned to an Iranian company.

There is also close cooperation between the two states in the energy sector. A notable achievement in bilateral cooperation was the extension of the 'Gas for Electricity' program signed last year, which allows for an increase in the volume of electricity supplied to Iran while simultaneously receiving greater quantities of gas.

The ambassador highlighted ongoing construction work on one of the most significant economic projects: the Iran-Armenia high-voltage electricity transmission line. He expressed satisfaction that friendly Iran is taking practical steps to complete this project.

Furthermore, the Armenian diplomat responded to the question concerning Azerbaijan's so-called 'Zangezur Corridor,' emphasizing that one of the key guarantees for establishing peace and stability in the region is the unblocking of transport and economic infrastructures, which is a priority for the Armenian government. The government's views on this matter are thoroughly reflected in Prime Minister Pashinyan's presented 'Peace Corridor' project.

He reiterated that the existence of any extraterritorial corridor is unacceptable and underscored that any communication route must operate under the sovereignty and jurisdiction of the relevant country on the basis of equality and reciprocity principles. This position is also reflected in the 'Peace Corridor' project.

It is crucial to note that Armenia's views on this matter have not only garnered full mutual understanding in Iran but also continue to be publicly articulated at the highest level regarding the need to unequivocally respect Armenia's territorial integrity and inviolability of its borders.

Additionally, the Armenian Republic is fully prepared to ensure the safety of the passage of goods, vehicles, and people in its territory. Official Yerevan has repeatedly stated its readiness to facilitate the connection between Azerbaijan and Nakhchivan under the same conditions that the Islamic Republic of Iran ensures.

The ambassador also addressed suggestions regarding alternatives to the so-called 'Zangezur Corridor,' indicating that the 'Peace Corridor' project presented by the Armenian government aims at unblocking economic passageways and enhancing the transit potential of regional countries while establishing new connections and achieving long-lasting and stable peace.

Lastly, he highlighted that the region’s economic infrastructure unblocking's most effective and mutually beneficial mechanism is the implementation of the 'Peace Corridor' project. Ambassador Avagyan pointed out Armenia's commitment to establishing lasting peace in the region and urged interested parties to adopt a more constructive approach to regional processes while committing to the peace agenda.