Armenian Foreign Ministry on US Forces Presence in the Region: Concerns of Iran

Armenia's Deputy Foreign Minister Vahan Kostanyan gave an interview to the Iranian IRNA agency, addressing the agreements signed between Armenia and Azerbaijan with the mediation of US President Donald Trump and their impact on Iran.

He stated that the relations between Tehran and Yerevan hold strategic significance and will never become a subject of any geopolitical deal. “We value these relations, which have a thousand years of history, and we must make them stronger and more stable for future generations,” he said.

According to Kostanyan, the upcoming visit of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi to Yerevan would elevate the relations to a higher level. The deputy foreign minister also commented on the reactions and concerns voiced from Iran following the signing of the agreement between Yerevan and Baku in Washington.

“It is important to hear the reactions and opinions of fraternal countries, especially Iran. We appreciate the balanced statement from Iran's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as well as the further observations from the Minister and President. We are entering a new era in Armenian-Azerbaijani relations. This will positively affect not only our bilateral relations but also the regional dynamics,” said Kostanyan.

“One of our key agreements with Azerbaijan is the restoration of transport routes in full mutual respect for the sovereignty, jurisdiction, and territorial integrity of the countries involved. Practically, this will open new opportunities for railway cooperation between Armenia and Iran, including through the Nakhchivan-Jughah railway, which would mean Iran's access to Armenia and eventually to the Black Sea,”

Key excerpts from the interview:

Question: What position do you see for Iran in this equation? And what is Yerevan's stance on the role of regional mechanisms such as the “3+3” format?

Answer: Regarding Iran's role, especially within the framework of the regional mechanism proposed by Iran, known as