Armenia, Iran foreign ministers pledge deepened cooperation on energy and transport

The foreign ministers of Armenia and Iran met to discuss deepening bilateral cooperation in energy, transport infrastructure and regional economic development, according to Anadolu Agency's report on the talks. Both sides pledged to advance joint work in these areas.

Energy and transport are the core of the relationship between the two neighbours. Armenia and Iran share a border of roughly 44 kilometres, and it is one of the few land routes Armenia has that does not pass through Turkey or Azerbaijan. Iran has supplied natural gas to Armenia through a pipeline from Tabriz to the southern town of Meghri, which opened in 2007. Under a long-running arrangement, Armenia repays part of that gas in electricity exported to Iran.

Transport links are the other main track. The two countries have discussed upgrading road connections across the Araks River crossing at Agarak-Norduz, and Yerevan has promoted a north-south route linking the Persian Gulf with the Black Sea through Iran and Armenia. Tehran sees such links as a way to diversify its trade routes in the South Caucasus.

The meeting comes as the South Caucasus is reshaping its transport and trade corridors following the end of the 2020 Karabakh war and the later normalisation talks between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Iran has said it wants to keep its access to Armenia and the wider region.

The summary of the talks did not specify new agreements, figures or timelines. Any practical steps on gas supply, electricity exchange or road and rail projects would still need to be announced by the two governments.