Speaking at a joint press conference with his Armenian counterpart Ararat Mirzoyan, held in Tehran on Monday, Amirabdollahian said Tehran and Yerevan emphasize the importance of the transit routes between the two neighbors.

He noted that Azeri President Ilham Aliyev has given an assurance that the Republic of Azerbaijan is not after the closure of the historic route between Iran and Armenia.

Highlighting the significance of relations with Armenia and Iran’s age-old and deep-rooted relations with the South Caucasian nations, Amirabdollahian said Iran welcomes progress in the peace talks between Yerevan and Baku and has actively focused on the course of regional dialogue and peace.

“The Caucasus must not turn into a field of conflict among countries,” he stressed, warning that a series of foreign actors are pursuing delineation and abuse of the region.

Amirabdollahian also pointed to the negotiations on the expansion of relations with Armenia and the implementation of joint projects, saying efforts are underway to increase the value of trade exchanges to $1 billion in the first stage and then to $3 billion.

He further noted that Iran and Armenia have agreed to continue their partnership on bartering gas for electricity, construct the third line of power transfer, and broaden scientific and technological cooperation.

For his part, Mirzoyan highlighted the importance that Armenia attaches to its historic ties with Iran, which he said will remain a friend of his country forever.

Emphasizing the significance of the completion of the North-South Corridor, promotion of economic cooperation between Yerevan and Tehran, and raising the value of trade exchanges to $3 billion, the Armenian foreign minister said, “Armenia and Iran’s engagement within the framework of trilateral relations constitutes an extraordinary basis for cooperation.”

He further highlighted the significance of ensuring stability in the South Caucasus region under the Almaty Declaration, calling for the establishment of a sustainable mechanism for dialogue.

Taking a swipe at the Republic of Azerbaijan for adopting “the policy of ethnic cleansing”, Mirzoyan said the Baku government has stopped the delivery of foodstuffs to the Nagorno-Karabakh region since June 15. “Today, we are witnessing what we had warned of seven months ago.”

He lauded Iran’s stances in support of Armenia’s territorial integrity, saying the Armenian political leaders are resolved to broaden ties with the neighbors on the basis of mutual interests.