Iran's ambassador to Armenia, Mehdi Sobhani, reiterated during a press briefing that Iran’s stance on unblocking regional communications in the South Caucasus remains unchanged: any such process must occur within the framework of Armenia's sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Responding to a journalist's question on whether road control in Syunik might be transferred to a third country or the U.S., Sobhani said Armenian authorities have clearly stated that unblocking will proceed under Armenian sovereignty and integrity, reports Armenpress.
“The Prime Minister has clearly stated that Armenia will maintain control. I have not heard anything beyond that. Other claims are media speculations and cannot serve as grounds for an official position,” Sobhani emphasized.
When asked if Iran is concerned about potential involvement of third parties in the region, the ambassador replied:
“No, that too is speculation. The Prime Minister mentioned that there were proposals. But it is not appropriate to form positions based on conjecture. What we know from Armenian officials is that everything will proceed under Armenia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.”
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, in a recent press conference, addressed the unblocking of regional transport routes and the possible outsourcing of their management. He noted that many options are being discussed with Azerbaijan to facilitate transit, but no firm agreement or signed document exists as of now. He added that Armenia already has notable outsourcing cases—some successful, some not.
