ArmInfo.Vital relations with Iran are a certain component in ensuring the national security of Armenia. A similar opinion was expressed to ArmInfo by head of the Department of Iranian Studies at YSU Vardan Voskanyan.
"In this light, the relations between Armenia and Iran have no alternative but to develop. And this is regardless of the approaches declared by one side or the other. Yerevan needs to work exclusively in this direction, refraining from statements pleasing to the ear of the Azerbaijani dynastic dictator. Moreover, , statements that can significantly limit our partners in their actions, "he stressed.
Commenting on the recent statement of the Iranian Foreign Ministry, in the context of the current situation near the village of Vorotan, the Iranianist described it as quite correct, however, clearly indicating the importance of relations and ties with Armenia for Tehran. In short, this statement, in his opinion, underlined the inadmissibility of the formation of any problems on the road connecting Armenia with Iran.
Since September 12, Azerbaijani police stationed near the village of Vorotan in the Syunik region of Armenia have stopped and checked Iranian trucks, demanding tolls from drivers. On September 15, they detained two Iranian drivers, accusing them of delivering goods to Artsakh. These actions of Azerbaijan have already created a serious problem for the trade between Iran and Armenia, since many truck drivers are simply not able to pay Azerbaijani levies.
In any case, in light of the situation at Vorotan, the Iranist attaches great importance to the response and position of the Armenian side. And he explains the inability of Armenia's partners and allies to be more proactive in this matter precisely by the incomprehensibility and ambiguity of Yerevan's response. Meanwhile, Voskanyan is convinced that the reaction of Armenia's partners and allies should be included in the messages coming from Yerevan.
"Without a doubt, the messages from Armenia regarding the hostile Azerbaijan ruled by a dictatorial regime should be extremely tough. The appearance of enemy soldiers on the sovereign territory of Armenia, the placement of a customs point on the road connecting Armenia with Iran, levying tribute to Iranian drivers, is already the limit of arrogance even for Aliyev. And Yerevan's response to such impudence should be appropriate, "he stressed.
By such behavior, the head of the Absheron dynastic regime, according to the Iranist, seeks to solve several problems in parallel. In particular, to exert moral and psychological pressure on Armenia, since today there is not a single guarantee that already tomorrow the Azerbaijani "customs officers" will not stop the Armenian car in order to levy a tribute.
"The more practical goal of applying such pressure on Armenia is to reach the so-called "Zangezur Corridor". And of course, this is a clear message to Iran; the message from the Turkish-Azerbaijani tandem, which is trying in every possible way to block alternative routes of Iran's exit to the north. "While the latter are not only of commercial-economic, but also geopolitical significance for Tehran," the Iranian expert concluded.