ArmInfo. Political consultations between Armenia and Iran have reached an unprecedented level. Abbas Badakhshan Zohouri, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the Republic of Armenia, stated this on February 9 during a conference on he opic " Armenian-Iranian Relations in the Context of Common Interests ".
In particular, the diplomat noted that over the past year, almost all high-ranking officials of both countries held at least one meeting, the exchange of views continued in different directions. In this regard, Ambassador Zohuri noted that the continuity of these processes is very important.
Recalling that the new government of Iran began its activities in the summer of 2021, he stressed that the state began to pay great attention to the formation of even better relations with its neighbors. The Ambassador noted that the regional and international processes in recent years have given a new impetus to the Armenian-Iranian relations.
He drew attention to the fact that the heads of both countries adhere to a common position on such fundamental issues as the need to respect internationally recognized territories, the peaceful resolution of disputes, respect for the rights and security of peoples in the region and common efforts to have a stable and peaceful region.
Abbas Badakhshan Zohouri also stressed that the new free trade agreement between Iran and the EAEU will further strengthen cooperation between Armenia and Iran in this sector.
" Broad cooperation in infrastructural matters is fundamental for the expansion of economic relations between the two countries," the Ambassador said, recalling the agreement reached on the exchange of electricity. At the same time, Zohouri expressed hope that the situation with transport routes will also change significantly in the coming years.
He reminded that the RA government was consistent in its efforts to provide an alternative road when problems arose on the Goris-Kapa road in the summer of 2021. According to the Ambassador, his incident proved that there is a need for convenient and safe roads.
He expressed confidence that convenient and high-quality roads connecting Armenia and Iran will enhance the positions of the two countries in the international arena. "Threats against international transport communications passing through Armenia and Iran are not only threats against our two countries, but other beneficiaries of these transport routes will also perceive them as threats ," Zohouri said.
He also noted that the elite and society of both countries should be consistent and promote the development of relations between the countries. The ambassador, in turn, expressed his willingness to provide multifaceted support in the cultural sector, in deepening and expanding the relations between the intelligentsia and the media.
It should be noted that according to the RA Statistical Committee, in 2022, the foreign trade turnover between Armenia and Iran amounted to $710.8 million, which is 41.2% higher than a year ago. In particular, exports increased by 69.7% to $111.2 million, imports - by 36.9% to $599.6 million