“It is clear that the Iranian side will try to actively work with Armenia to have a more secure, stable, and predictable situation from their point of view,” Johnny Melikyan, an expert at the Orbeli Center, said in an interview with Radar Armenia, referring to the statement of Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, according to which Tehran should urgently improve relations with neighboring countries.

According to Melikyan, Iran has more than a dozen neighbors, and Armenia, as a friendly country, is essential for Iran. “Therefore, in this case, against the background of recent developments, when even the media discussed the so-called American proposal, active Armenian-Iranian negotiations took place. Both Pezeshkian and Armen Grigoryan called his colleague. This showed that there is some concern on the Iranian side regarding the future of the Iranian path in the region,” he said.

Pezeshkian mentioned several countries, including Armenia, as countries with “great potential” with which cooperation should be activated to ensure common interests. J. Melikyan, referring to the significance of this formulation, noted: “Armenia can do what is under our jurisdiction now; we have been able to ensure at least some minimal relations and trade and economic cooperation against the backdrop of decades of difficult West-Iran relations,” he said and added: “It is good if today they have a desire to activate relations somewhat.”

According to his observation, if the situation in West-Iran relations, with the IAEA, the US, or European countries, changes and a new round of negotiations begins, and latest developments occur, then Armenia will have the opportunity to deepen relations further. “We know that the crisis and the sanctions that the West is applying to Iran are somewhat limiting our relations, and the less pressure from outside, the more positive the background for relations will be.”

Lilit Abrahamyan