Iran needs assurances that developing Armenian-Israeli ties will not threaten its national interests – Iranian-Armenian lawmaker
Posted on May. 21. 2020
Hripsime Hovhannisyan
Armenia’s decision to open an embassy in Tel Aviv has given ground to a wide polemic in Iran, with different analysts and representatives of different political streams sharing their analysis and evaluations, according an Iranian-Armenian lawmaker.
In an interview with Tert.am, Robert Beglaryan highlighted Israel’s role in the region – and influence upon Azerbaijan and other neighboring states – as a core issue under the Islamic Republic’s permanent spotlight.
“The statesmen in Armenia are also aware of the fact. That’s a sensitive topic. Also in Iran, [top politicians] know that there hasn’t been and will not ever be any threat to the country on the part of Armenia,” he said, expressing hope that Armenia’s future political actions (stemming from the country’s national interesta) are negotiable on the level of foreign ministries.
It comes after the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs responded to Armenia’s decision (announced back in 2019), expressing hope that “Yerevan will revise its plan”.
“We have repeatedly warned other countries about the illegitimacy of the Zionist regime state’s occupant nature, expressing concern in connection with the steps offering even the slightest legitimacy grounds,” he said, adding that they have shared concerns also with the Armenian government.
Beglaryan added that to the best of his knowledge, the Armenian ambassador to Iran earlier had dialogues over the issue in an attempt to mitigate attitudes by conveying the Armenian government’s position.
“The maintenance of the two countries’ relations is very important. The presence of an embassy in Tel Aviv is a very sensitive issue for Iran. We, the Iranian-Armenians – and those close to Iran’s political life – are aware of the importance which Iran and Armenia have for ome another. Armenia, probably, needs to find a format to outline the clear-cut frameworks of its relations with Israel. The two countries need – considering security interests – to develop another [form of] cooperation stemming from their priority concerns. That’s already something which they themselves have to clarify. The problem for Iran is to have assurances that Armenia’s move to develop relations with Israel will not create any threats to its country, particularly in terms of intelligence and information technologies,” Beglaryan explained.
Asked what may prevent Amrenia from meeting Iran’s call half-way, Beglaryan hesitated to give a specific answer. “It is hard to say; the kind of statement may have been made considering the domestic political situation. We need the perception, in any case, that Israel’s presence in any region – or relations with any country that may deal with its interests – has permanently been and will continue to remain under Iran’s spotlight. I know that Iran too, has always approached Armenia’s problems with a mutual understanding, but this topic is sensitive in a unique way. It is possible to find the right track in case of a reciprocally open interpretation of the bilateral relations,” he added.
Beglaryan further noted that the Iranian-Armenian ties are not limited to just several factors, with the two countries being on a “very serious regional intersection” (Caucasus and Middle East). “I have been content to date with the two countries’ political relations, yet the economic [aspect] has incurred an influence in a way — from certain political conditions,” he said, admitting also the existing reservations.
The lawmaker noted that the two countries’ relations need “very serious re-arrangements, reorganization and a new strategy” in many branches of the economy apart from the energy sector.
“I am hopeful that Armenia’s decision to have an embassy in Tel Aviv will not hamper the process,” Beglaryan said.
“I am not sure whether it is [because of] the lack of a political will or the two countries are awaiting until certain other problems are resolved to allow them to proceed further. That’s what we have always encountered. Now, I think, the sooner the doubts are dispersed, the more rapidly the two countries’ economic relations will develop,” he added.