Pezeshkian: Iran-Armenia ‘strategic ties’ should not be disrupted by foreign powers
Foreign powers should not be allowed to disrupt “friendly and strategic relations” between Tehran and Yerevan, President Masoud Pezeshkian said on Saturday, after a US-brokered peace agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan caused security concerns for Iran.
During a meeting with Secretary of the Security Council of Armenia Armen Grigoryan in Tehran, Pezeshkian pointed to the recent peace agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan, signed in Washington, and voiced concern over the presence of foreign forces in the region.
The Iranian president, however, noted that these concerns had been largely alleviated following the explanations and reassurances provided by Armenian officials.
On August 8, Armenia and Azerbaijan signed a peace agreement brokered by the US President Donald Trump, under which a transport corridor linking Azerbaijan to its landlocked exclave Nakhchivan is to be established.
Under the deal, Armenia granted exclusive rights to the United States to develop a corridor in its southern province of Syunik, which borders Iran, to connect Azerbaijan to Nakhchivan.
Iran has long opposed the idea, saying it would change the geopolitical order of the Southern Caucasus and would restrict Iran’s ability to use transport networks in the region.
Earlier on the day, Grigoryan held a meeting with Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council Ali Larijani, during which Larijani expressed Tehran’s opposition to any move resulting in geopolitical changes in the Caucasus region.
Larijani declared Iran’s support for peace dialogue between Armenia and Azerbaijan, and elaborated on the Islamic Republic’s theory of regional peace and stability.
“Iran has always supported the independence and strength of regional countries to ensure lasting security,” he stated.
Grigoryan, for his part, hailed the bilateral relations as unprecedented, stating that his visit to Tehran is aimed at the expansion of ties in various spheres.
He added that Armenia seeks to sign a comprehensive strategic partnership document with Iran in the near future.
The secretary of the Security Council of Armenia stressed that his country attaches paramount significance to the five principles of national sovereignty, respect for territorial integrity, exercise of national judicial jurisdiction, inviolability of borders, and the principle of reciprocity.
Grigoryan also stated that Yerevan is ready to provide the necessary guarantees to Tehran to ensure that relations between Iran and Armenia will not be harmed.
He underlined Armenia’s inherent opposition to regional geopolitical changes.