Iran observes South Caucasus developments with 'open eyes': MFA
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Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei says Tehran "observes with open eyes" developments in the South Caucasus, stressing opposition to foreign interference.
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Iran's foreign ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei holds a weekly press conference in Tehran on October 28, 2024. (AFP)
Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei said that Tehran is monitoring the situation in the South Caucasus "with open eyes," stressing the region’s political, economic, and geopolitical importance for Iran and its neighbors.
Speaking in a radio interview on Sunday, Baghaei commented on reports that a US private consortium would oversee the Zangezur corridor along Iran’s northwestern border as part of the recently signed Armenia-Azerbaijan peace treaty.
"We observe developments with open eyes, and we neither oversimplify nor downplay any issue," he said, adding, "The South Caucasus region holds political, economic, and geopolitical importance for us and the regional countries, especially Russia."
Baghaei stressed the need to counter misinformation aimed at undermining Iran’s relations with South Caucasus states, while reiterating Tehran’s opposition to foreign involvement. "We do not consider foreign intervention and the presence of extra-regional forces to be beneficial under any circumstances, and we believe that such involvement leads to geopolitical complications," he stated.
Armenia assures Iran on border security
Baghaei said Yerevan has assured Tehran that no foreign forces will be deployed along their shared border, noting that the Zangezur route will be reconstructed by Armenian companies with the participation of an American firm registered under Armenian law.
He pointed to Article 12 of the Armenia-Azerbaijan peace agreement, which explicitly states that no foreign military forces will be stationed along the borders of Armenia and Azerbaijan.
The spokesperson emphasized that Iran maintains good relations with South Caucasus countries and prioritizes stability and security in the region.
"The Islamic Republic stands ready to take steps toward strengthening bilateral relations and cooperation with regional countries, and supports any initiative that contributes to enhancing stability and security in the region," he said.
Pezeshkian to visit Armenia
Baghaei's statement comes amid Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian's preparations for a pivotal visit to Yerevan on Monday. The trip coincides with a strategic shift in regional transit dynamics, particularly following the Armenia-Azerbaijan transit agreement to construct the Zangezur corridor.
Initially met with caution, the corridor has evolved through diplomatic engagement into a platform for economic collaboration. PressTV said that the agreement complements Iran's broader North-South transit corridor ambitions, aimed at connecting the strategic Chabahar port to the Caucasus and beyond.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi noted that shared history and mutual interests have placed Iran and Armenia "on the verge of a new chapter in their bilateral relations," while reaffirming Iran's dedication to fostering peace and stability in the South Caucasus.
Armenia's deputy foreign minister assured Tehran that all sovereignty and border concerns had been fully addressed. "In the declaration that we are speaking about, there is a reference to four very key principles of sovereignty, territorial integrity, jurisdiction, and reciprocity," the Armenian official told PressTV.
