Armenian Deputy Foreign Minister Calls Washington Agreement Historic, Highlights Regional Transport Connectivity and Cooperation With Iran
On August 14, Armenia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Vahan Kostanyan stated that the recent agreement signed in Washington between Yerevan and Baku was a historic event with global attention, and that Armenia valued the reactions of "fraternal countries," particularly Iran. Kostanyan welcomed what he called the balanced statements from Iran’s Foreign Ministry regarding the deal, saying it marked "a new era" in Armenia–Azerbaijan relations.
He highlighted that a core point of the agreement was the opening of transport routes in the region under full respect for sovereignty and jurisdiction. This includes opportunities for railway cooperation between Armenia and Iran via the Nakhchivan–Julfa line, giving Iran access to the Black Sea. Addressing Tehran’s concerns about U.S. involvement, Kostanyan stressed that Armenia had taken Iran’s sensitivities into account during preliminary talks. He explained that while a company would be registered in Armenia with shares divided between Armenia and the United States, this arrangement did not imply any U.S. security presence in the region.
He said one of Iran’s main concerns—the uninterrupted operation of the Armenian–Iranian border—had been addressed. Kostanyan argued that mutual economic interdependence, with the U.S. benefiting from its investment, Iran from access to the Black Sea, and Armenia from a rail connection to Russia via Azerbaijan, could serve as a "bridge for cooperation." He concluded by reaffirming the importance of the historical Armenian–Iranian border, assuring that it would "not change under any circumstances."
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