Paruyr Hovhannisyan
Armenian Deputy Foreign Minister: No Iranian Concern Over U.S. Border Control Specialists Visit
Iran has expressed no concerns regarding the upcoming visit of a U.S. working group specializing in border control, Armenian Deputy Foreign Minister Paruyr Hovhannisyan told reporters in parliament.
The visit stems from an Armenian-American charter agreement on establishing a Strategic Partnership Group, which includes a provision to deploy experts to Armenia's border with Iran to share best practices in border management.
According to Hovhannisyan, the matter was discussed with Iranian officials, as are all topics of mutual importance. However, he emphasized that this initiative pertains solely to the technical operations of border services and does not touch on sensitive issues for either country.
“For 30 years, Armenia has not independently managed this section of its border. It is now time to take responsibility, using the best international practices available,” he stated.
Hovhannisyan dismissed any suggestions of friction with Tehran, highlighting recent high-level cooperation. “Deputy Foreign Minister Vahan Kostanyan recently visited Tehran. Have you noticed any concerns raised by our Iranian counterparts? On the contrary, the visit reaffirmed the unprecedentedly high level of our relations, as demonstrated by mutual visits and public statements,” he noted.
The Deputy Foreign Minister did not rule out the possibility of Russian border guards ceasing their oversight of Armenia’s borders with Turkey and Iran as part of this broader shift.
“We must take responsibility for securing our own borders. Ideally, every country should have the capacity to do so independently. This American assistance is aimed at enhancing our capabilities and sharing relevant expertise,” Hovhannisyan added.
When asked about Moscow’s reaction, Hovhannisyan referred to recent talks between Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan and his Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov. He described the discussions as “substantive and constructive,” pointing to the joint press briefing as evidence of a productive working atmosphere.
Since January 1, 2025, Armenia’s National Security Service (NSS) has fully assumed control of the Meghri border crossing with Iran, marking a significant step in the country’s border management efforts.
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