Naghdalyan: Recent developments related to Iran cause concern

ArmInfo.  Iran is one of  Armenia's most important partners, and relations with Tehran are of  vital importance for Yerevan, Anna Naghdalyan, Acting Spokesperson of  the Armenian Foreign Ministry stated on August 14 referring to the  new US sanctions against Iran, as well as their possible impact on  Armenia.

She stressed that Armenia closely follows all processes around Iran.  At the same time, Naghdalyan recalled that in 2015 Armenia was one of  the first countries to welcome the agreements reached around the  Iranian nuclear program. According to her, Armenia in this issue was  guided by the opportunities that this agreement provided both in  terms of stability and security of the region, and prospects for  deepening cooperation. "Naturally, the recent processes around Iran  cause concern, but Armenia continues to work closely and in a  coordinated manner, to conduct an open dialogue with both Iran and  all parties involved in the process." We clearly and openly voice the  issues of which we are concerned, our  anxiety and our stance based  on them. We are trying to establish an open dialogue with all the  parties, "Naghdalyan said.

Referring to the date of the visit of the Armenian Prime Minister to  Iran, which was announced earlier, and whether this visit will create  difficulties in relations with the US acting Spokesperson of the MFA   noted that the vector of interaction with Iran is clearly indicated  in the program of the government of the country.  "The program  emphasizes that we must develop close relations with Iran in the  spirit inherent in the two neighboring states, and they should be  aloof from geopolitical processes, and we must consider the  forthcoming mutual visits at different levels in this very light.  Moreover, as far as we know there is no visit to Iran on the agenda  of the Prime Minister of Armenia yet, as soon as the terms of a  possible visit will be specified, this will be reported in due time,  "Naghdalyan summed up.

Earlier, US President Donald Trump recovered some sanctions that were  lifted in the framework of the nuclear deal concluded by Iran with  six world powers in 2015. The agreement provided for the limitation  of Iran's nuclear program in exchange for the abolition of sanctions  that caused serious damage to its economy. The restored sanctions  affect Iran's auto industry, its trade in gold and other precious  metals, the national currency (Iranian rial) and other financial  transactions.

Moreover, Trump threatened to introduce on November 5 the next series  of sanctions that would be directed against Iranian activities in the  energy sector, as well as the operations of foreign financial  institutions with the Central Bank of Iran. Meanwhile, Iran and other  parties to the agreement have stated that they intend to continue it.