Armenia ‘set to import’ more gas from Iran

Armenia will import more gas from Iran, said the Armenian ambassador voicing Yerevan's readiness to also increase electricity export to Iran.

Artashes Tumanyan, who was addressing a meeting themed 'Iran-Armenia ties, opportunities and challenges', further said that recent political developments in Yerevan have not impacted the country's foreign policy, reported Fars News Agency.

He also voiced Armenia's readiness to increase electricity exports to Iran and hoped that trade exchanges between the two countries would rise in the near future, Iran Daily reports.

Turning to Washington's pressure on Yerevan to reduce relations with Iran, he said, "The US has talked with Armenia about Tehran-Yerevan ties, and they have realized that relations with Tehran are of high significance to us."

Meanwhile, Chairman of Iran-Armenia Friendship Society Mohammadreza Damavandi complained that despite high historic and political relations in the cultural fields, the two countries have failed to broaden relations to desirable levels.

While Tehran and Yerevan have set a target of $1 billion in trade exchanges, they have achieved only $200 million to $250 million, he said.

Earlier in mid-August, Iran's Deputy Energy Minister Homayoun Haeri announced that Tehran and Yerevan are currently working on finalizing the third Iran-Armenia power transmission line.

"Taking timely measures for implementing the third power transmission line from Iran to Armenia is one of the most important parts of bilateral and multilateral cooperation," Haeri said following a meeting with Armenian Minister of Energy Infrastructures and Natural Resources Artur Grigoryan in Yerevan.

The Iranian official said that during his meeting with Grigoryan, the Armenian minister also underlined that the importance of finalizing the construction of the third high-voltage Iran-Armenia power transmission line.

Grigoryan, who serves also as a co-chairman of the Armenian-Iranian intergovernmental commission, noted that in the context of intensifying Tehran-Yerevan economic cooperation, the construction of a high-voltage power transmission line between Armenia and Georgia can also play a serious role.

The sides also exchanged views on the agreements reached at the 15th meeting of the Armenian-Iranian intergovernmental commission in Yerevan in 2018. It was stressed that the intergovernmental commission has a special mission in deepening and expanding trade and economic relations between the countries.

Iran and Armenia signed four agreements in the fields of economy, customs and sports agreements in February. The deals were inked at the closing ceremony of 15th Joint Commission on Iran-Armenia Cooperation.

Earlier this year, Iranian Energy Minister Reza Ardakanian had placed special emphasis on steering public and private sectors to increase transactions and joint investment.

"Fortunately, the 15th meeting of Joint Technical, Economic and Cultural Commission between Iran and Armenia was held in an amicable and peaceful environment," he said, adding, "I hope that mutual cooperation would be boosted between the two countries in the best possible form in future."