Iran - Armenia: From "Ordinary Good Neighborliness" to Strategic Partnership

About a week ago, Ara Shahverdyan, a member of the Iranian parliament representing the Armenian community, stated in comments to local media that two-thirds of the technical, engineering, and construction projects being implemented in Armenia are carried out by Iranian contractors.

This is reported in a video on the Azad İran YouTube channel.

The material emphasizes that this statement clearly demonstrates the level that Iranian-Armenian cooperation has reached. Observations and facts show that even the threat of war with the United States and Israel has not weakened Iran's extensive ties with Armenia. On the contrary, this interaction has recently intensified and acquired a multi-vector character.

Apparently, as the implementation phase of the TRIPP project approaches, Iran is seeking to realize its regional plans by increasing its activity in Armenia. This is confirmed by the mutual visits of senior officials from Tehran and Yerevan over the past month, as well as the wide range of topics they discussed.

It is also noted that at the end of last month, Iran's Vice President, head of the Plan and Budget Organization, and co-chair of the joint Iranian-Armenian intergovernmental commission, Hamid Pourmohammadi, made an unscheduled visit to Yerevan. He held meetings with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, Deputy Prime Minister Mher Grigoryan, and Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure David Khudatyan. In addition, Pourmohammadi attended the official ceremony marking the start of construction of the Kajaran Tunnel.

The report draws attention to the fact that the construction of the Kajaran Tunnel, considered an important part of the North-South highway, will be financed through a $200 million loan from the Eurasian Fund for Stabilization and Development (EFSD), as well as funds allocated by the Armenian side amounting to approximately $195 million. The project's implementation has been entrusted to the Iranian companies Abad Rahan Pars International Group and Tunnel Sadd Ariana Company, with which corresponding contracts were signed at the aforementioned ceremony.

The IRGC-affiliated publication "Javan" characterized this project as a significant step by Iran and Armenia aimed at changing the geopolitical map of regional trade.