Former ambassador of Iran to Armenia: “Unfortunately, we did not meet our interests in the Caucasus issue and the second Karabakh war”

The former ambassador of Iran to Armenia and Brazil, Alirza Saqgaiyan, said: "The summit of the Caspian countries creates an opportunity for us to enter more actively into the field of economic diplomacy."

The former diplomat analyzed Iran's participation in the summit of the Caspian littoral countries and economic and trade cooperation with those countries and claimed: "As for regional economic cooperation, we have always acted independently. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, Iran was considered the country with the most active presence in Central Asia. 

Official Tehran has played an effective role in easing tensions between Azerbaijan and Armenia. However, the previous Iranian government's foreign policy with its neighbors was ignored because it dealt with the nuclear issue."

The former ambassador admitted: "We saw that we did not secure our interests in the Caucasus issue and the second Karabakh war."

Tehran to continue consultations with Yerevan on political and regional issues

Iran's Ambassador to Armenia Abbas Badakhshan Zohouri, in his meeting with Foreign Minister Huseyn Abdollahian on July 1, discussed the meeting of the Joint Commission on Economic Cooperation between Iran and Armenia, the state of relations between the two countries in various fields, as well as the events in the Caucasus region. 

At the meeting, Amir Abdollahian noted the need to continue the process of consultations on political and regional issues between the high-ranking officials of the two countries.

He made the necessary recommendations regarding the continuation of the agreements reached within the framework of the joint commission, especially the cooperation between Iran and occupying Armenia in infrastructure and energy issues.

University of Tehran establishing Science and Technology Park in Yerevan

Rector of Tehran University Seyyed Mohammad Mugimi met with the Rector of Yerevan University in Tehran. During the meeting, Mugimi said: "With the help of Yerevan University, we are ready to play a role in joint research and education to strengthen relations between Iran-Armenia and the countries of the region." 

According to him, the main areas of interest of Tehran University are the development of scientific relations, the broader spread of the Persian language and literature in Armenia, and the greater recognition of the Armenian language in Iran. The Rector of Tehran University then suggested the establishment of knowledge-based companies operating in the Science and Technology Park of Tehran University on the premises of Yerevan University and starting cooperation in this field between the two universities.

In addition, Iran's University of Religions and Sects and Yerevan National University reached several agreements. They visited the University of Religions and Sects with the Rector of the Yerevan National University and the Ambassador of Armenia to Iran.

Seyyed Abulhasan Nawab, the Rector of the Iranian University of Religions and Sects, claimed in a meeting with the guests from Armenia: "I know Armenians very well, and I know them as honorable and honest people who have lived in peace and tranquillity with their Muslim compatriots in Iran for many years, and what is interesting is that, so far I have not heard about any bad and unpleasant features about Armenians."

Rector of Yerevan National University Hovanes Havanishyan noted that the department of Iranian studies and Persian language courses, which are proudly taught and attended by many Armenians, are operating in the university he represents. In his opinion, Oriental studies, especially Iranian studies, is considered one of the most important specialties in this field.