Iran Warns Armenia of US’ Hegemonic Plot in Guise of Corridor Project
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Rejecting the presence of any foreign military forces in a new transport route as part of a US-brokered deal between Armenia and the Republic of Azerbaijan, the Iranian president warned that the US may pursue hegemonic plans in the Caucasus under the cloak of economic investment.
In a telephone conversation with Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan on Monday, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian hailed the “strategic” and constructive relations between the two countries which he said are based upon good neighborliness and mutual respect for the territorial integrity of each other.
Denouncing attempts to harm the deep-rooted and age-old ties between Tehran and Yerevan, Pezeshkian said, “As the anchorage of peace, stability and security in the region, the Islamic Republic of Iran would welcome any agreement strengthening peace, especially among regional countries.”
Pointing to the US-brokered agreement on the creation of a corridor that is designed to link the Republic of Azerbaijan with Nakhchivan and grant the US a 99-year development lease on the route in southern Armenia, the Iranian president stressed the need to preserve Armenia’s sovereignty and prevent the involvement of any foreign military and security forces in this project.
Urging extreme caution and vigilance in the face of the possible American measures, Pezeshkian warned that the US may be pursuing “hegemonic goals” in the Caucasus in the guise of economic investment and the claim of ensuring peace.
“One must make sure that this route will be really the route of peace and development, not a tool for the realization of the hegemonic objectives of outsiders,” the Iranian president told the Armenian prime minister.
He stressed that maintaining close relations among Iran, Armenia and the Republic of Azerbaijan requires caution, coordination, rapport and avoidance of foreign intervention.
For his part, Pashinyan gave a detailed report on the process of conclusion of the peace treaty with the Republic of Azerbaijan and expounded on various aspects of the planned transit route in the Caucasus.
Praising Iran’s stances in support of convergence among the regional states and its insistence on the protection of Armenia’s territorial integrity, the Armenian leader assured Pezeshkian that Yerevan will not sign any deal unless it would take account of the interests, reservations and sensitivities of Iran.
Pashinyan added that Armenia regards its relations with Iran as strategic, stressing that every important decision and measure will be taken after consultations and coordination with Iran.
Armenia considers transparency and sincerity as the fundamental principles of relationship with Iran, he stated.
