Yerevan and Tehran to hold high-level consultations on August 12
YEREVAN, August 11. /ARКА/. Armenia and Iran are planning to hold high-level consultations on August 12 to discuss the progress achieved in the peace agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan, as well as regional stability, the official representative of the Iranian Foreign Ministry Esmail Baghaei told a press conference on Monday morning.
He added that the purpose of the consultations is to gain a clearer understanding of the current developments and convey Iran's position and concerns to the Armenian side.
"Tehran has always maintained close and constructive relations with the countries of the South Caucasus, especially with Azerbaijan and Armenia," Armenpress quotes him as saying, citing Mehr.
He stressed that Iran values friendly ties based on good neighborliness and mutual interests, and, naturally, maintains contacts with these countries on issues related to events in the region, especially if they directly or indirectly affect Iran.
Speaking about Armenia, the diplomat noted that negotiations on concluding a peace agreement by Armenia and Azerbaijan have been ongoing for a long time and are not a new topic. During previous discussions, both sides were called upon to speed up the signing of a peace treaty, as it is believed that this document could become a turning point in strengthening peace and stability in the Caucasus.
The day before, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said that the issue of the (Zangezur) corridor had been completely put aside, and that it would be a transit route that would be laid under the sovereignty and jurisdiction of Armenia on its territory.
Earlier, Ali Akbar Velayati, Adviser to the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic on International Affairs, said in an interview with Tasnim that Iran was against the creation of the so-called Zangezur corridor, which would pass through Armenia and connect the main part of Azerbaijan with Nakhichevan, and block the American corridor in the Caucasus.
He also noted that the Armenian people were also strongly against the corridor plan, as it would lead to the disintegration of the country. According to Velayati, communication between Azerbaijan and Nakhichevan could be carried out through Iran.
A declaration was signed following the trilateral meeting between Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, U.S. President Donald Trump, and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev on August 8 in Washington.
The seven-point document includes the initialing of the agreed-upon text of the Agreement on the Establishment of Peace and Interstate Relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan by the foreign ministers of the parties, as well as the need to continue actions to sign and ratify it.
The document also calls for the signing of a statement by the foreign ministers of both countries on the dissolution of the OSCE Minsk Process and related structures.
The document calls for efforts to ensure unimpeded communication between Azerbaijan and Nakhchivan through Armenia's territory, based on respect for states' sovereignty, territorial integrity, and jurisdiction.
Additionally, it requests that Armenia cooperate with the United States and other countries to establish a framework for implementing the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity project in Armenia. -0-
