By Nane Sahakian
TEHRAN (Azatutyun) — The secretary of Armenia’s Security Council, Armen Grigoryan, reportedly praised Iran’s policy towards the South Caucasus when he visited Tehran on Sunday amid escalating tensions between the Islamic Republic and Azerbaijan.
Grigoryan’s office said that he discussed with his Iranian counterpart, Ali Shamkhani, the “security situation in the region” and Armenian-Iranian relations. It gave no details of their “working dinner.”
Iranian news agencies reported that Grigoryan praised Iran for “promoting regional peace and stability” and said forging closer links with Tehran is a “top priority” for the Armenian government.
Shamkhani was reported to reaffirm Tehran’s opposition to any “geographic change” in the region.
Iranian leaders have repeatedly made such statements in response to Azerbaijan’s demands for an extraterritorial corridor to the Nakhichevan exclave that would pass through Syunik, the only Armenian province bordering Iran. They have warned against attempts to strip the Islamic Republic of the common border and transport links with Armenia.
