“The TRIPP project is not the Zangezur corridor”.
Modern.az reports that this was stated by Ruben Rubinyan, Deputy Speaker of the Armenian Parliament, while commenting on the statement by Ali Akbar Velayati, advisor to Iran's Supreme Leader on international affairs, who said that “this project is no different from the Zangezur corridor, and Iran is strongly against the TRIPP project, just as it is against the Zangezur corridor”.
In his conversation with journalists, Rubinyan emphasized that TRIPP is a business project that will operate based on the principles of equality within the framework of the full sovereignty, territorial integrity, and legality of the Republic of Armenia.
He noted that the Armenian side is in constant contact with its Iranian counterparts, taking into account their sensitivities and interests on this issue.
“The Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has repeatedly stated that its “red lines” are taken into account and opportunities are created for Iran. I believe these statements remain valid”, Rubinyan added.
The Deputy Speaker emphasized that the official position of any country is expressed through its Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and in this case, the statements of the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs are taken into account.
He also noted that in most cases, the interests of Armenia and Iran coincide. "Furthermore, Armenia's "red line" is the absence of a transit corridor through the territory of the Republic of Armenia", Rubinyan concluded.
It should be noted that Ali Akbar Velayati, advisor to Iran's Supreme Leader Khamenei on foreign policy issues, reiterated his anti-position against the Zangezur corridor during a meeting with Armenia's ambassador in Tehran. He stated that the “Trump route” is the same as the Zangezur corridor and that Tehran is against it.
Although Velayati stated that “Tehran is against the Zangezur corridor”, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi are not against the Zangezur corridor. Nevertheless, Velayati's statement once again makes it clear that, as with various other issues in Iran, there are two different positions among the ruling forces regarding the Zangezur corridor. In the person of Velayati, the conservatives hold an opposing view to Masoud Pezeshkian.
The conservatives' opposition to the Zangezur corridor does not change the existing reality. The construction of the corridor continues, and unless an extraordinary event occurs in Armenia, the “Trump road” will begin to be built next year.
