TEHRAN – Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Aragut in a call on Tuesday with Armenian counterpart Ararat Mirzoyan emphasized the importance of respecting national sovereignty.
“All decisions must respect the sovereignty of the nation’s states in full,” Araguchi said the agreement affecting regional geopolitics underscores Iran’s firm stance that the territorial integrity and security of all neighbouring states must prioritize the territorial integrity and security.
The conversation follows Armenia’s announcement of a memorandum of peace with Azerbaijan, signed under US mediation at the White House, where President Donald Trump claimed credit for brokering the deal.
The agreement includes provisions to unblock regional transport routes and raised concerns about potential changes in the geopolitical landscape of the South Caucasus in Tehran.
Iran has consistently advocated for regional stability and arrangements that could disrupt strategic interests and disrupt access to critical transport routes, particularly those connected to Armenia and Georgia.
On their phone, Mirzoyan explained details of the peace agreement and the planned Caucasian Transit Corridor Project to Aragut, ensuring Tehran that Armenia considers its ties with Iran as a priority.
He explained that the relationship was rooted in mutual respect and good neighbors, highlighting Armenia’s commitment to ensuring that local decisions are consistent with Iran’s interests.
Araghchi welcomed peace efforts, but warned that new transport routes should not change the geopolitical balance of the region or tighten Iran’s access to existing networks.
A top Iranian diplomat emphasized that stability and security considerations are essential to regional agreements.
On the other hand, experts should note that, as international law requires countries that are directly affected by decisions involved in doing so, if Iran could harm its interests, it could potentially block transport plans in the South Caucasus. According to the Vienna Convention, plans that affect Iran’s borders and trade routes must be legal to approve Iran.
Also, according to a ruling by the International Court of Justice, Iran’s proximity to Sinik and its dependence on regional trade means that its boundaries and economy should be considered in the potential development of new transport routes.