Expert: It is extremely important for Armenia to get rid of illusions  in relations with Iran

ArmInfo. In relations with Iran, it is extremely important for Armenia to get rid of illusions. An expert of the Armenian Institute of International Relations and  Security Ruben Mehrabyan expressed a similar opinion to ArmInfo.

"Illusions, the level of which has reached the level of stable  political mythology, fairy tales and completely unfounded  expectations. In the end, we must give up hopes that Iran is ready to  sacrifice its relations with Turkey and Azerbaijan for the sake of  Armenia at the expense of its interests. that Iranian Minister Javad  Zarif made it very clear to us in Yerevan, "he stressed.

On January 27, during a meeting in Yerevan with Armenian Prime  Minister Nikol Pashinyan, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad  Zarif said that official Tehran stands for the observance of  international law, the rights of national minorities and the  preservation of territorial integrity on the Karabakh issue. The  Iranian diplomat arrived in Armenia as part of his second major  regional tour to Azerbaijan, Russia, Georgia and Turkey.

Not seeing any need to decipher what was said by the head of the  Iranian Foreign Ministry in Yerevan, the expert considers it  necessary to draw red lines in relations with Iran and Armenia. And  to be guided in these relations by our own national interests,  completely excluding the very possibility of grievances against  Tehran, which has not justified the Armenian hopes far from reality.

In this light, Armenia, according to Mehrabyan's assessments, needs  to intensify the process of developing economic relations with Iran,  as far as the sanctions against Tehran allow. And also to maintain a  high-level political dialogue on all issues of mutual interest.

At the same time, in parallel with getting rid of the above-mentioned  illusions, Armenia, according to the expert, needs to get rid of  phobias according to which deepening relations with the West, Israel,  the Arab countries of the Persian Gulf can harm relations with Iran.  Of course, provided that any anti-Iranian activity with the  participation of third countries on the territory of Armenia is  excluded.

"And of course, our relations must be" cleansed "of the fear that  they may somehow offend the interests of Russia. And exclude the  repetition of the anti-state policy of many years limiting the  development of the Armenian-Iranian trade and economic ties to a  minimum. Everything, and first of all, we ourselves We must  understand that our relations with Iran should concern only us and  Iran, "the expert summed up.