Iranian concerns about TRIPP remain. what “mechanism” is that?

“One of the issues on the agenda of the Armenian-Iranian relations is the management of the risks arising from the TRIPP project and the elimination of possible challenges,” announced Khalil Shirgholami, Iran’s ambassador to Armenia, at a press conference held in Yerevan yesterday.

The ambassador noted that it has not been 20 days since Iran signed a memorandum on establishing peace with the US, but during this time it was violated several times.

“Therefore, Iran’s concern about the presence of Americans near its borders is very legitimate and logical, and a clear answer should be given to these concerns,” declared the Iranian ambassador to Armenia.

He also mentioned that the Armenian government has assured that as a result of the implementation of this project and the presence of the USA, no threat or challenge will be created for Iran.

“I think that we should get such a mechanism, within the framework of which Armenia will be able to realize its full potential of de-blockade, but together with that, the possible risks of the US presence and any threats against Iran should be managed and should be clearly responded to,” the Iranian ambassador emphasized.

Reacting to the above-mentioned observations of the ambassador, Nikol Pashinyan announced during the briefing today that there is no conspiracy around the TRIPP project, its main goal is to unblock Armenia and the entire region.

According to him, Armenia should be unblocked, the region should be unblocked, trains should come and go, cars should pass, electricity transit should be carried out, gas pipelines, oil pipelines, pipelines and cables should be possible. According to Pashinyan, Armenia is ready to answer all questions and dispel the concerns of partners.

He also said that Yerevan will continue to work with Iran, Russia, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Turkey, the European Union, Central Asian countries, China and other partners, as the project is of global importance.

Նրա խոսքով՝ եթե ընթացակարգերը ժամանակին ավարտվեն, ապա արդեն այս տարվա աշնանը հնարավոր կլինի սկսել առաջին աշխատանքները։ Փաշինյանը նաև ընդգծել է, որ նախագծի իրականացումը հնարավորություն կտա բացել Պարսից ծոց-Սև ծով երկաթուղային կապը, ինչի արդյունքում կընդլայնվեն Հայաստանի և Իրանի առևտրատնտեսական հնարավորությունները։

«Կարող եմ ասել, որ այս նախագծի իրականացումը բխում է նաև Իրանի Իսլամական Հանրապետության շահերից»,- նշեց Փաշինյանը։

The Iranian ambassador’s thesis about the need for a “mechanism” in the context of Armenian-Iranian relations goes beyond the scope of mere diplomatic protocols.

The concept of “mechanism” is, in fact, a requirement to create a system of security guarantees that will protect Tehran from possible threats of US influence in the region. The priority for Iran is not to block the project, but to guarantee its “political neutrality”.

It is not excluded that on the basis of the “mechanism” Iran is considering receiving legal guarantees, written assurances that the infrastructures implemented in the territory of Armenia cannot under any circumstances serve purposes against Iran. Maybe they see a need for monitoring in Iran to increase confidence. This, in turn, implies the creation of appropriate joint working groups.

Under the “mechanism”, Tehran may mean different instruments, but the main one is the record that Tehran is trying to fill the lack of trust with institutional guarantees. This is a challenge for Armenia, because in fact the public statements do not dispel Iran’s concerns, as Iran emphasizes a high level of mistrust in its relations with the United States.

Maybe this is the reason why this year the Islamic Republic of Iran is actively promoting the agenda of signing a strategic partnership document between the Republic of Armenia and the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Yesterday, the ambassador said that their desire and will to institutionalize the Armenian-Iranian partnership within the framework of the strategic partnership document is very serious and decisive.

“This was discussed at different levels and clear statements were made. Last week, when the Honorable Mr. Nikol Pashinyan met with the Honorable President of the Republic of Iran Mr. Pezeshkian in Iran, Mr. Pezeshkian once again emphasized the importance of this issue and the need to achieve a result as soon as possible,” he noted.

The Ambassador of Iran to Armenia emphasized that Iran is working diligently and taking steps to conclude and sign a comprehensive strategic partnership document. “We are currently working on the text of the strategic partnership document, it is at the stage of study and drafting.

I hope that we will finish this stage as soon as possible and start working on further signing. We must work to summarize and finalize this document, and the Republic of Iran will gladly welcome the visit of the Honorable Nikol Pashinyan, the Prime Minister of Armenia, where they will be able to sign this document,” said Ambassador Shirgholami.

Therefore, it is not excluded that this document is one of the components of the mechanism that the ambassador was talking about. Pushing the agenda of the strategic partnership agreement by Iran is Tehran’s “insurance policy”.

Tehran seeks to ensure that these processes do not turn into a tool for undermining the security of its borders. In this case, the “strategic partnership” is not just a diplomatic protocol, but a system of institutional guarantees that should bind Armenia to Iran’s security agenda as a loyal ally.

However, the Armenian side seems to be in no hurry to sign such a document with Iran. Along with this, RA declares that it is ready to respond to all concerns, but time will tell if this is enough for Iran.

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