Iranian Minister of Energy Ali Akbar Mehrabian stated that
Iran and Russia will exchange energy through the territories of Armenia,
Georgia, and Azerbaijan. He noted that with some neighbors they will conduct
the exchange free of charge.
“This is not a new project. It has been already 20
years since we have been doing this with Iran, that is, gas in exchange for
energy,” Iranologist Harut Artin Arakelyan said this in his meeting with
ABC Media.
As Arakelyan noted, Armenia receives three cubic meters of
gas from Iran and gives one kW of electricity in exchange.
“A few years ago, a new project was developed. Under
this project, energy was to be sent to Armenia from Iran. From Armenia it was
to be sent to Georgia and eventually, left to the free market,” Arakelyan
said.
According to him, when this project was being developed, the
Russian Federation wasn’t part of it because of the big border issues and
difficult foreign relations between Russia and Georgia. However, at this stage,
relations between them have improved.
“The Georgian side shows readiness to establish economic
relations with Russia. Iran is going to export energy to Russia through several
corridors, namely Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan, and Armenia,” the Iranologist
added.
As the expert states, this process will help us improve our
economic relations with our natural allies in the region. This is an
opportunity not to be passed up.
“Iran has alternatives – not that they are waiting for
Armenia,” Arakelyan noted.
According to the Iranologist, this is a perfect opportunity
to foster close economic relations with allies.
“In one way or another, economic relations constitute
politics. They say, when goods do not cross borders, soldiers will. It is
perfectly normal that Iran prefers to have economic relations with Armenia and
gives Armenia that message,” he noted.
As the expert states, after all, the Armenian authorities
turn to the West. Thus, it is quite normal that Iran sends such messages to
Armenia.
The turnover of economic relations between Iran and Armenia
has not reached one billion dollars within 30 years. An agreement was concluded
in recent months during Pashinyan’s visit to Tehran, under which, the turnover
should reach three billion dollars,” Arakelyan said.
In reply to the question as to why we have not been able to
increase our trading turnover with Iran to one billion dollars within 30 years,
the Iranologist said, “Our economic course does not pass through Iran.
However, with its actions and statements, Iran is trying to make us understand
that it does want to strengthen economic relations with the Republic of
Armenia.
