Iran to expand cooperation with Armenia after sanctions lifted
24.07.2015,
18:26
Once the sanctions imposed on Iran by the West are lifted it will be able to expand cooperation with its neighbors, including Armenia, Iran’s ambassador to Armenia Mohammad Reisi said today.
YEREVAN, July 24. / ARKA /. Once the sanctions imposed on Iran by the West are lifted it will be able to expand cooperation with its neighbors, including Armenia, Iran’s ambassador to Armenia Mohammad Reisi said today.
Speaking to local reporters, he said cooperation with neighbor countries is the foundation of Iran's foreign policy.
‘We have very good relations with Armenia, and after the sanctions are lifted they will deepen even more,’ said Reisi.
The ambassador believes that Armenia may become a good corridor for linking the Persian Gulf to the Black Sea region.
"Perhaps, the construction of the corridor will take a lot of time, but communications have a significant impact on the economy of Iran. The construction of the railway linking Armenia with Iran is estimated to cost $3.5 billion. Now the turn is for investors,' said Reisi.
He said Armenia and Iran had signed numerous agreements on various projects, including the construction of the hydropower plant in Armenian Meghri, electricity swaps, although not all of them are implemented.
The agreement on the construction of the rail link was approved by Armenian and Iranian governments in 2009. In 2012, the Dubai-based Rasia FZE Investment Company was granted a 50-year concession by the Armenian government to build and manage the 305-kilometer railway from Armenia to Iran, to be named the Southern Armenian Railway (SAR).
By late 2013 Rasia FZE developed a feasibility study for the project, estimated to cost $3.5 billion. The high cost is explained by mountainous terrain through which it is supposed to pass. Specifically, the 305 km-long railway will have 19.6 km-long 64 bridges and 60 tunnels of 102.3 kilometers.
The railway is to run from Gagarin station in Armenia’s Gegharkunik province to Agarak in southern Syunik and may transport up to 25 million cargos a year.
According to an Armenian government statement, the Southern Armenia Railway will create the shortest transportation route from the ports of the Black Sea to the ports of the Persian Gulf and establish a major commodities transit corridor between Europe and the Persian Gulf region.” .-0-
Speaking to local reporters, he said cooperation with neighbor countries is the foundation of Iran's foreign policy.
‘We have very good relations with Armenia, and after the sanctions are lifted they will deepen even more,’ said Reisi.
The ambassador believes that Armenia may become a good corridor for linking the Persian Gulf to the Black Sea region.
"Perhaps, the construction of the corridor will take a lot of time, but communications have a significant impact on the economy of Iran. The construction of the railway linking Armenia with Iran is estimated to cost $3.5 billion. Now the turn is for investors,' said Reisi.
He said Armenia and Iran had signed numerous agreements on various projects, including the construction of the hydropower plant in Armenian Meghri, electricity swaps, although not all of them are implemented.
The agreement on the construction of the rail link was approved by Armenian and Iranian governments in 2009. In 2012, the Dubai-based Rasia FZE Investment Company was granted a 50-year concession by the Armenian government to build and manage the 305-kilometer railway from Armenia to Iran, to be named the Southern Armenian Railway (SAR).
By late 2013 Rasia FZE developed a feasibility study for the project, estimated to cost $3.5 billion. The high cost is explained by mountainous terrain through which it is supposed to pass. Specifically, the 305 km-long railway will have 19.6 km-long 64 bridges and 60 tunnels of 102.3 kilometers.
The railway is to run from Gagarin station in Armenia’s Gegharkunik province to Agarak in southern Syunik and may transport up to 25 million cargos a year.
According to an Armenian government statement, the Southern Armenia Railway will create the shortest transportation route from the ports of the Black Sea to the ports of the Persian Gulf and establish a major commodities transit corridor between Europe and the Persian Gulf region.” .-0-
