On July 8, Khalil Shirgholami, Iran’s Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Armenia, stated that issues related to risk management and possible challenges arising from the implementation of the Armenian-American "Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity" (TRIPP) project remain an important part of the Iranian-Armenian agenda. During a press conference, Shirgholami responded to questions about whether Tehran’s concerns over the project had increased following the recent war involving Iran. He emphasized that Washington had repeatedly violated provisions of the memorandum signed between Iran and the US, arguing that Tehran’s concerns over an American presence near its borders were "entirely legitimate and logical" and required a clear response.

According to Shirgholami, Armenian authorities had assured Iran that the implementation of TRIPP would not create threats or challenges related to the presence of the US. However, he stressed the need to establish mechanisms that would allow Armenia to benefit fully from the reopening of regional transport links while also addressing Iran’s concerns regarding possible security risks. "We, too, have heard unofficial views suggesting that strikes against Iran were launched from Azerbaijani territory; however, representatives of Iran’s military and security forces have not confirmed this," Shirgholami stated. The ambassador said that Iran’s response to any attacks launched from the territory of another country was clear, recalling that Tehran had previously responded to strikes originating from territories used for American operations against the Islamic Republic. He added that one of Iran’s main priorities during the recent conflict was to prevent the escalation of tensions in the South Caucasus.

Shirgholami also referred to an incident involving Nakhchivan Airport during the conflict between Iran and the US and Israel. He stated that following the incident, the President of Azerbaijan issued a harsh statement containing rhetoric that went beyond acceptable limits. According to the ambassador, Iran responded in a balanced and measured manner, and the issue was later addressed through diplomatic channels. "For our part, we conveyed a message that such behavior was unacceptable," Shirgholami stated.

Addressing economic cooperation, Shirgholami said Armenia has the potential to become an important transit hub in the energy sector. He noted that Armenia’s geographical position between Iran, which has the world’s third-largest reserves of gas and oil, and Russia, another major energy producer, creates significant opportunities for the country. The ambassador stated that Armenia and Iran have recently discussed cooperation in areas including natural gas, petroleum product trade, and the transportation and transit of energy resources. While declining to provide further details because the proposals remain under consideration, he noted that new initiatives are also being developed. Shirgholami emphasized that with sufficient political will from both sides, Armenia could achieve a fundamentally different role in regional energy transportation and transit. He also welcomed what he described as positive developments in Armenian-Russian relations, noting that Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s visit to Russia resulted in productive discussions. "It is expedient and mutually beneficial for the countries of the South Caucasus and the states adjacent to the region to set aside their differences and establish cooperation," Shirgholami stated.