Expert: Armenia should develop cooperation with Iran to strengthen  the economic potential of Syunik

ArmInfo.Armenia must interact with Iran so that the Syunik region, in any case, continues to function as a vital transport highway.

Head of the Department of Iranian Studies at YSU, Iranianist Vardan Voskanyan wrote about this on his Facebook page referring to the implementation of a project to  launch a transport corridor through Meghri, in the context of the  so-called unblocking of communications, the implementation of which  is not in the interests of Iran either.

According to the Iranian expert, if the project to unblock  communications is implemented, there is a high risk that the  Nakhichevan road may lead to the marginalization of communications  with Iran through Syunik. In his words, and this is not in the  interests of not only Armenia, but also Iran, and in this context  there is something to work on in bilateral relations.

"Another task is steps to strengthen the economic opportunities of  Syunik region. The Iranian side can play a serious role in this  issue, especially if we take into account the presence of a free  trade zone in Meghri, which, unfortunately, has not yet been  launched, "Voskanyan noted, adding that the commissioning of the  Meghri FTA will give an economic impetus and Syunik region. At the  same time, the expert is convinced that given the importance of this  area for Armenia from the point of view of security, its economic  development is extremely important.

At the same time, the skeptical Iranian spoke out about the ability  of the current government to take at least some steps conditioned by  the Armenian national interests. According to him, the evidence of  this is the actions and decisions taken by the authorities over the  past few months.  It is worth noting that the Iranian side announced  the visit of Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif to  Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan. According to the Iranian side, the  visit to Armenia and Georgia will take place next week.