Iran emphasized the importance of Armenia’s Syunik Province as a strategic region and said that its security was of utmost importance to Tehran.
“[Syunik is a strategic region that has a great role in ensuring security and trade between Iran and Armenia. The opening of the Consulate General of Iran in Kapan contributed to the improvement of border communication,” Iran’s Ambassador to Armenia Mehdi Sobhani said in an interview with the Iranian SNN news agency.
Iran opened a consulate in Kapan in October, 2022. Plans are underway for Armenia to open a consulate in the northeastern Iranian city of Tabriz.
Sobhani reiterated Iran’s long-held opposition to changes in international borders and any geopolitical changes in the region in direct response to Azerbaijan’s insistence for a land “corridor” through Armenia connecting to Nakhichevan, and thus Turkey.
“Security and stability in the region are in Iran’s interests, and we are ready to help in this direction,” Sobhani said, adding that relations between Iran and Armenia hold particular importance due to the geographical and strategic positions of the two countries.
“As one of Iran’s neighbors, Armenia has a secure and stable border, which plays a vital role in strengthening regional security. In addition, economic, energy, and educational cooperation between the two countries will contribute to strengthening bilateral relations and economic development,” Ambassador Sobhani noted.
He emphasized that joint infrastructure and energy projects such as road construction and expanding gas and electricity exchanges help improve regional infrastructure and meet mutual needs.
Sobhani also said that Iran plans to double the import of electricity from Armenia, saying that the extension of a energy agreement between the two countries to 2030 has allowed his country to export 360 million cubic meters of gas to Armenia in exchange for electricity imports.
He said the completion of the construction of the third power transmission line from Armenia to Iran will allow to double the electricity import from Armenia to Iran in the near future.
“I have been in Yerevan for almost a year, and during this time we have managed to achieve significant progress in relations between Iran and Armenia. Armenia is one of our neighbors and has a 46 kilometer border with us, which is one of the most secure borders,” Sobhani said.
He also highlighted that, last year, Iran signed its largest contract with the Armenian government since Armenia’s independence.
“This contract provides for the construction of the Agarak-Kajaran road in the southern part of Armenia, which is located on the route of the North-South corridor. With a value of $212 million, this project substantially enhances the export of technical and engineering services from the Islamic Republic of Iran to Armenia,” Sobhani explained.
He added that the project will reduce travel time from one hour and 20 minutes to just 20 minutes, and expand the road width from 6 meters to 17 meters, significantly improving safety and speed.
