Iran with sustainable peace in Caucasus: Shamkhani

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Iran is in favor of sustainable peace in the Caucasus region and is making efforts to ensure that it takes place, the Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, Ali Shamkhani, said on Thursday.

Durable security in the region would not prevail without sustainable stability in the Caucasus, Shamkhani said during a meeting with his Armenian counterpart Armen Grigoryan in Yerevan.

The top Iranian official reiterated Iran's readiness to employ its capacities to contribute to the establishment of sustainable peace in the South Caucasus region, which includes Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia. His words came in light of soaring tensions between Armenia and Azerbaijan over their borders and the Nagorno-Karabakh region.

Shamkhani also hailed the deep and old cultural and civilizational ties between Iran and Armenia, as well as the support that the two nations have provided for each other against the backdrop of harsh regional and international conditions. There should be no limits to the development of bilateral ties, he said.

The top security chief then called for establishing agreements that will lay down the groundwork for an increase in the volume of economic exchanges between the two neighboring countries considering their significant potential.

Grigoryan similarly underlined the importance of the promotion of ties between Armenia and Iran at all levels, as well as the plans to broaden the economic and trade relations with Iran. 

The Armenian official said the major projects include the transfer of electricity between the two countries and the sharing of Turkmenistan's natural gas with Armenia.

Iran signed in mid-June nine Memoranda of Understanding and a joint declaration with Turkmenistan. The documents on cooperation include economic, trade, cultural, environmental, scientific, and transportation issues.

Cooperation between Iran and Turkmenistan took to new heights, particularly in the areas of gas exchanges and transportation.

Grigoryan then praised Iran for its pivotal role in the enhancement of ties amount the states of the South Caucasus region as well as for ensuring regional security. He also asked Iran to maintain its role in strengthening sustainable regional security.

As part of his visit to Armenia, Shamkhani will hold a meeting with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan to discuss the issues Yerevan and Tehran have, and those of the region and the world as a whole in order to ensure regional security and stability.