YEREVAN, Armenia - Iran trusts Armenia not to take steps against its security but remains concerned about a broader U.S. presence in the region, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Oct. 16.
Araghchi spoke in Yerevan after Armenian officials said the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity, or TRIPP, would not include a U.S. military presence. He said Tehran maintains close contacts with Armenia’s leadership and is confident that Yerevan will not act against Iranian security, according to APA.
“At the same time, we remain concerned about the presence of the United States in the region and around Iran,” Araghchi said, according to the report.
Report said the minister was commenting on the implementation of TRIPP on the sidelines of COP17 and had referred to continuing consultations with Armenian officials.
Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan said earlier in the day that U.S. troops would not be stationed along the route. Mirzoyan said Tehran had raised that question and received assurances that the project contained no American military component.
Araghchi’s remarks put Iran’s position on the record: Tehran says it trusts Armenia while retaining wider concerns about U.S. activity near its borders. The statement does not mean that all Iranian questions about TRIPP have been resolved.
TRIPP is designed to establish a transport connection through southern Armenia between mainland Azerbaijan and its Nakhchivan exclave. Armenia and the United States have said Armenian sovereignty and jurisdiction will remain in force along the route.