Over the past 10 years Armenia and Iran lost a chain of opportunities to develop relations, Sardarapat initiative group member said.

“These are the failure to build the railway connecting the two countries, to operate Iran-Armenia gas pipeline and to construct Hrazdan heat power plant 5th power unit,” Tigran Khzmalyan told reporters on June 24.

“Iran offered Armenia to finance construction of Hrazdan heat power plant 5th power unit, the loan to be paid off through delivery of electricity to Iran. However, the Armenian authorities preferred to transfer the construction right to Russia,” he said. “Construction of Armenia-Iranian oil processing plant is also dragged out.”

“Armenian authorities is incapable to oppose the pressure from outside, betraying national interests for the sake for their personal benefits,” Khzmalyan stated.

He also emphasized that recently Iran sent farming equipment to Karabakh and expressed willingness to meet with NKR representatives to discuss further cooperation. However, no response has been received yet.

As to regional policy, Khzmalyan noted that both Armenia and Iran are interested in prevention of Turkey’s expansion throughout the region.

“Moreover, Armenia has a unique opportunity and even obligation not to join the anti-Iranian battle and to maintain energy, commercial and technical cooperation with Tehran,” he concluded.