Iran, Armenia strengthen bilateral relations

Iran Minister of Roads and Urban Development, Mehrdad Bazrpash, at the head of a delegation to Yerevan, visited Prime Minister of Armenia, Nikol Pashinyan, Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructures, Gnel Sanosyan, and Minister of Economy, Vahan Kerobyan, in order to promote bilateral transport and trade cooperation. 

Mehrdad Bazrpash was welcomed at the Zvartnots International Airport by the Deputy Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure of the Republic of Armenia and the executive director of the "Road Department" Fund. 

In his meeting with Pashinyan, Bazrpash said Iran has always supported the territorial integrity of Armenia and tries for peace and stability in the Caucasus. Pointing to the policy of Iran for developing relations with its neighboring countries, he said the two countries can target $ 3 billion trade (from the current $700 million) and the removal of trade and transit tariffs facilitate this goal. 

Bazrpash also pointed to the crimes of the Zionist regime in Palestine and said, "The brutality of the Zionist child-killer regime is not a new thing…countries should not be indifferent to the oppression of the people who are being evicted and bombarded". 

During this visit, Iran and Armenia signed two contracts for reconstruction of the 32 km Agarak-Kajaran Road in the Syunik Province which is part of the Tranche 4 of Armenia's North-South Road Corridor. These $210- million contracts are for the reconstruction of the 21 km road section from Agarak to Vardanidzor and the construction of the 11 km road from Vardanidzor to the tunnel exit. 

Armenia's North-South Road Corridor reduces the distance from Iran's border to Georgia's border. As part of the Persian Gulf-Black Sea Corridor, it will significantly facilitate access to the Black Sea for Iran and Armenia. The project will provide access to the Black Sea and European countries through the territory of Armenia (Meghri-Kapan-Goris-Yerevan-Ashtarak-Gyumri-Bavra) and Georgia. 

The implementation of the North-South Road Corridor is important for Armenia in terms of the modernization and development of Armenia's road network. The 32-kilometer Kajaran-Agarak section is financed by the Eurasian Fund for Stabilization and Development as well as the state budget of the Republic of Armenia. 

Iran is seeking to diversify its transit routes with the construction of new international routes in order to increase transit advantages and ease the access to the countries along the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) and Europe. Moreover, it aims to export technical and engineering services by Iranian companies.

Bazrpash also met with the Minister of Economy of Armenia, Vahan Kerobyan. In their meeting, Bazrpash called for a trade increase up to three times and welcomed the proposal for establishing a fund for supporting joint projects. Kerobyan also emphasized on the importance of the India-Iran-Armenia Corridor and said, "The concluded contract for the completion of the North-South Road Corridor in Armenia with two Iranian companies has been the largest contract with Iran". He also said removing tariffs will augment mutual trade to the benefit of both sides. 

The two sides also negotiated over issuing licenses for Iranian airlines, removal of road tariffs, promotion of cooperation within the framework of the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) and the Persian Gulf-Black Sea Corridor, expanding rail transport and using Iran's logistics and port capacities.

In October 2022, transport ministers of Iran and Armenia agreed on linking through a new transit corridor along the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) that stretches from Tatev Road in Armenia to Nordouz-Varzeqan in East Azerbaijan and then to the Persian Gulf. Thereby, the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) was to be developed in the Armenian territory through Norduz Border to Varzeghan and Tabriz which would subsequently increase capacity for freight transit along the INSTC.

Similarly, in October 2021, an Iranian technical delegation went to Armenia to consider participation in completing the southern part of a road corridor, the Tatev Road, as an alternative route to Goris-Kapan Road.