ArmInfo.The US has demanded that Armenia raise the issue of withdrawing Russian border troops from the Iranian-Armenian border. Political scientist Suren Surenyants announced this at a press conference in Yerevan on September 18, noting that he received this information through his diplomatic channels.
As noted by the political scientist, the US is making every effort to reduce the influence of Iran, Russia and China in Central Asia and the South Caucasus. Surenyants explains that Russia and Iran hold similar positions in this context, though they are not identical. According to him, the differences concern interactions with Turkey and Azerbaijan. "If for Russia Azerbaijan and Turkey are countries through which it bypasses Western sanctions, then for Tehran they are allies of the West, including Israel," the political scientist stated. From this perspective, the expert believes, Russia's participation in the so-called project to build Greater Turan, poses an existential threat to Iran. However, according to him, it is inaccurate to claim that relations between Russia and Iran are currently in crisis, despite efforts by Western-oriented forces to push this narrative.
"After the recent statements made by the head of Turkish intelligence Ibrahim Kalin regarding the significance of launching the so-called "Zangezur corridor", Secretary of the Russian Security Council Sergei Shoigu, who is currently on an unofficial visit to Tehran, announced Russia's support for Iran's transportation communications policy. This is a positive signal for us, assuming, of course, that there is a competent government in Armenia capable of capitalizing on such an opportunity," Surenyants emphasized.
At the same time, he believes that Russia and Iran are working to uphold the current situation in the Araks River zone and prevent the Western involvement. According to him, this agreement aligns with the provisions set forth in the Gulistan and Turkmenchay Treaties (1813 and 1818). In support of this, he recalled that, according to paragraph 9 of the Turkmenchay Treaty, the border between Russia and Iran runs along the Araks River.