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.