The strategic partnership with Moscow lies at the core of Yerevan's passive stance on the economic cooperation with Tehran. The passiveness is also conditioned by the Moscow and Tehran's clash of energy interests, Stepan Safaryan, Head of the Armenian Institute for International and Security Affairs, told ArmInfo.
According to him, Iran and Georgia are concerned over Armenia's full independence for they do not wish to cooperate with Yerevan via Moscow or ant other mediator. Meanwhile.
The expert says, Moscow is aspiring for Yerevan to be as dependent as possible. Russia is using every means including the energy sector and security issues.
According to him, the Russian side is not willing to be present on the Armenian-Azeri border, however, it does wish to control the Armenian-Iranian one. Therefore, it will limit the Yerevan-Tehran cooperation by using its status of a strategic partner.
Safaryan believes Yerevan can win a lot when the sanctions are lifted form Iran. However, Armenian EEU membership does hinder the immediate dialogue between Yerevan and Tehran. For now Armenia will be quite content with small-scale deals such as the construction of the third Iran-Armenia PTL.
By the contract, signed between Armenia and Iran, the construction works of the 3rd PTL will be launched next week