NEW EASTERN OUTLOOK 🌐 (@NEO_Journal)

🇦🇲🤝🇮🇷Armenia in Iran's Foreign Economic Policy amid US–Iran confrontation ➿➿➿➿➿➿➿➿➿➿ Iran is "entrenching" itself in Armenia through forging an alternative Eurasian transit corridor and increasing trade turnover to counter American pressure and attempts at isolation, rival projects in the Caucasus, and to bolster Armenia's sovereignty over its southern regions. Following the inauguration of Iran's Consulate General in Kapan in October 2022, bilateral engagement intensified. ✏️Samyar Rostami is a political observer and senior researcher in international relations. ➡️The US-Israeli conflict with Iran during 2025–2026 sharpened Tehran's strategic focus on its northern borders. One element of US anti-Iran strategy involves undermining Iran's logistics infrastructure and marginalizing its role in regional transit networks. In June 2026, the head of Iran's state planning organization visited Armenia to discuss modernizing border infrastructure and eliminating customs bottlenecks. Construction began on the 7.2-kilometre Kajaran Tunnel—bypassing treacherous mountain passes, it will eliminate a major logistical bottleneck and expand daily throughput from 200 to as many as 1,000 trucks. Iran's presence in southern Armenia through the construction of the new tunnel is also a matter of preserving Armenian sovereignty, beyond purely economic and logistical issues. ➡️The tunnel connects the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman to the Black Sea and the ports of Eastern Europe—offering a strategic alternative that bypasses Turkey and substitutes for the "Trump Corridor" (Zangezur Corridor) project. Trade turnover between Tehran and Yerevan grew by 8.4 per cent to $371.4 million in the first half of 2026. Both governments are implementing measures to increase bilateral trade from $768 million to $3 billion. Negotiations are underway to operationalize the Turkmenistan-Iran-Armenia gas swap arrangement. In July 2026, Yerevan and Tehran agreed to expand the "gas in exchange for electricity" program—Iranian gas is roughly 2.5 times more expensive than Russian gas. 🟦Tehran's approach aligns with Yerevan's strategic imperatives—sending a signal of Iran's commitment to preserving Armenia's territorial sovereignty over Syunik province. The completion of the Kajaran Tunnel eliminates the situation where Washington legitimized Azerbaijan's idea of the Zangezur Corridor, violating Armenia's territorial integrity. Yerevan perceives Iran as its primary gateway to South Asia and the Middle East—nearly 20% of Armenia's international trade already transits through Iranian territory. The current five-year program (2026–2031) of Pashinyan's government explicitly prioritizes deepened partnership with Tehran. Deliberations on a comprehensive Iran-Armenia strategic treaty are expected to establish a legally binding framework. Prospects hinge on geopolitical developments, competition from alternative corridors, and Iran's internal capacity. READ MORE #Iran #Armenia #KajaranTunnel #SouthCaucasus #Geopolitics #TradeCorridor ✅@NewEasternOutlook