Wednesday, August 22 2018 12:52

ArmInfo. Today, new opportunities are opened for strengthening the relations between  Armenia and Iran. Stepan Grigoryan, Chairman of the Analytical Center for Globalization and Regional Cooperation, expressed such opinion during a press conference in Yerevan, answering the question of ArmInfo, will the US not apply sanctions against Armenia if the latter becomes a transit country for the export of electricity from Iran to Russia.

According to the Armenian political scientist, the implementation of  the electricity export project will be another step towards  strengthening the sovereignty of Armenia. Grigoryan recalled that at  one time the Armenian authorities gave the Russian side a gas  pipeline with Iran, although everyone knew perfectly well that it  could only supply gas to Armenia to produce electricity at the  Yerevan Thermal Power Plant and its return to Iran. The expert  believes that the implementation of the project with Iran will  strengthen the wobbly Armenian sovereignty. "Yes, today there is  tension between the US and Iran, but I would like to note that,  against the backdrop of the blockade of Armenia, the United States  has always been sympathetic to the Armenian-Iranian cooperation, I  think that everything depends on the scale of our interaction. to  look through your fingers, "Grigoryan said.

At the same time he urged not to forget about the position of the  European Union on the issue of restoring sanctions against the IRA.  The political scientist recalled that the EU announced its intention  to continue cooperation in the same spirit. "And this means that the  Armenian side has a place for maneuvers," Grigoryan said.

In his turn, the director of the research center "Modus Vivendi",  public figure Ara Papyan reminded that when the Armenian-Iranian gas  pipeline was being built, Iran was also under sanctions. The expert  expressed the conviction that the US takes decisions on every issue,  starting from the circumstances and own interests. "I do not think  that serious problems should be expected here, although the US is  following the situation closely." Here it is necessary to build on  the statement of the US Ambassador in our country who advised the  Armenian business to consult with the embassy when establishing  cooperation with the Iranian side. , that there will be no problems,  "Papyan said.

Earlier, Iranian energy minister Reza Ardakanian stated that the IRI  is negotiating with Armenia and Azerbaijan on the issue of  electricity export to Russia. "We are seriously following the plan of  Iran's accession to the European electricity grids," Ardakanian said  in an interview with IRNA, adding that joining the European  electricity networks through Iran's northern neighbors is one of the  scenarios.