Iran needs Armenia as alternative to Turkey and Azerbaijan – Iranologist on expectations from Raisi presidency

But what concrete positions, she continued, the president has in foreign policy and regional processes, including regarding the development of trade-economic projects and transportation links will be known after the formation of his government. Expert on Iran Emma Begijanyan emphasized that Iran’s “red line” in regional processes is Armenia’s territorial integrity.

Besides, Iran, together with India and the EU, is greatly interested in the realization of its Persian Gulf-Black Sea Trade-Economic Project, and in this context Tehran attaches importance to Armenia’s role as an alternative to Azerbaijan and Turkey – which have become a single state.

“Iran needs an alternative road – Iran-Armenia-Georgia-Black Sea-Europe. Otherwise they have a road leading to Europe through Turkey, a road leading to Russia through Azerbaijan. In other words, if Azerbaijan and Turkey – who today have become a single state, were to suddenly close their roads Iran wouldn’t have an alternative. That is why Iran needs an alternative, and we are that alternative. That is why they are strictly against the so-called “corridor” statements coming from Turkey and Azerbaijan.”

According to Begijanyan, the new presiden...