Russia Supports Armenia’s Trump Route Corridor Plans — Overchuk

Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexei Overchuk said Moscow views Armenia as a strategic ally and supports its initiatives if they are in Yerevan’s interests, Orda.kz reports, citing Public Radio of Armenia.

He also plans to visit Armenia.

According to Overchuk, the visit was planned in advance and is linked to a new Armenian government regulation that, in Russia’s view, contradicts Eurasian Economic Union law. He noted that Moscow is interested in issues affecting its position in the South Caucasus, including the development of railway links.

Overchuk also said Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan visited Russia two weeks ago and is expected to return in the near future.

Iran’s Foreign Minister on the Washington Agreement

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Armenia had given Tehran detailed explanations of its agreement with Azerbaijan. According to him, Prime Minister Pashinyan and Armenian diplomats personally assured Iran’s leadership that the deal poses no threat to the Islamic Republic.

Araghchi noted that the Zangezur Corridor project was initially seen as a potential threat, but now it is only a road under Armenian sovereignty, being built by a private American company.

There will be no U.S. military or security forces on the border, and Armenia itself will ensure security.

He emphasized that Iran presented its concerns to Yerevan and received assurances that all of the country’s “red lines” would be respected.