Unblocking of regional transport links must be implemented without violating sovereignty or territorial integrity – Esmail Baghaei

Speaking with Armenpress, Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei commented on the ongoing discussions around the unblocking of economic and transport links in the region, the Armenian proposals in this regard, as well as the Azerbaijani narratives about an extraterritorial corridor.

“First, we value our bilateral relations with both Republic of Azerbaijan and Republic of Armenia. They are our neighbors and we are determined to continue our good neighborliness policy with both states. We have bonds of friendship with both states, with both Republic of Azerbaijan and Republic of Armenia.

As far as Armenia is concerned, we have a very dynamic and important Armenian community in Iran. We are proud of them. At the same time, we have clarified that any transportation routes must be implemented or must be devised while respecting internationally recognized borders and without violating national sovereignty or territorial integrity of any state in the region. So while we support expansion of transportation routes and connectivity between the nations of the South Caucasus and Iran, we have to be careful really. First, not to change internationally recognized borders, not to in any way make any transgressions against national sovereignty or territorial integrity of any member states.

At the same time, one particular thing is very important for us and I think should also be appreciated by all countries of the region and that’s the importance of not allowing third parties, non-regional actors to intervene in the affairs of South Caucasus because I guess it would simply complicate the issues. It would not be in the interest of the states of the region. So that’s a principle position that we have always declared and we are determined to continue that,” he said.