Analyst: Iran nuclear deal agreement will open up new opportunities for Armenia (video)
Iran’s nuclear deal agreement opens up enormous opportunities for Armenia, says Paul Stronski, a senior associate in the Russia and Eurasia Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. In an interview with Voice of America, the analyst said Armenia can deepen cooperation with Iran in economic, commercial spheres if the agreement is implemented and certain sanctions [imposed on Iran] are lifted. “Due to the sanctions, the trade with Iran comprises only 5 percent of Armenia’s foreign trade, so if the sanctions are lifted, new opportunities will open up for Armenia,” Paul Stronski said. In addition, he says, Armenia will have a real chance to bring Iranian gas to Europe through its territory, even if Russia is against it. "I definitely encourage Armenia to discuss with Georgia and Iran the possibility of delivering Iranian gas through its territory,” he said. The analyst believes that the agreement will, on the whole, contribute to peace and stability in the South Caucasus. Stephen Blank, a former military expert, a senior fellow for Russia at the American Foreign Policy Council, holds a different opinion on the agreement: he thinks everything depends on Tehran. He says of part of the sanctions are abolished Iran will have the right to freely sell oil and gas which will bring the country an estimated income of $ 150 billion. The analyst says Iran can use some of the money to increase its influence among its neighboring countries. “Iran will try to increase its role and influence in the South Caucasus, but the country is likely to do it in more civilized methods,” Stephen Blank stressed. The analyst thinks that the agreement may change Iran for the better and the country may try to spread the positive changes in its neighboring countries. At the same time, Nr Blank does not exclude that Iran may adhere to the same principles and use petrodollars to sponsor terrorist organizations, Hezbollah and Hamas. “If Iran remains committed to the principles of good neighborhood and does not try to organize a regime change in its neighboring countries, which is still unknown to us, this nuclear deal agreement will have a positive impact on the South Caucasus, otherwise its influence will be negative,” the analyst said. Both experts believe that Armenian-Iranian relations will only develop after the ratification of the agreement.
