How will Trump’s anti-Iranian campaign be reflected in Armenia-Iran relations?

“Naturally, that tough position by US president-elect will have its negative implications on programs Iran is going to implement in the region and in the world,” Dr. Ali Salami, Iranian analyst, former editor-in-chief of Tehran Times, told 168.am, reflecting to Trump’s anti-Iranian policy and its possible implications.

Analyzing the reasons of Trump’s anti-Iranian position, he stated that the reason for this policy isn’t at all launching ballistic missiles by Iran, as if Iran didn’t have that right as a result of nuclear deal. Ali Salami reminded during his pre-election campaign the Republican candidate was much tougher in issues linked to Iran, insisting that nuclear deal is a big mistake and it should be cancelled.

“After assuming presidency, we may say Trump slightly mitigated his sharp rhetoric, however, it won’t be proper saying that surprises aren’t anticipated to Iran and the region, as despite availability of UN Security Council formula, which as our instances claim are incompatible with sanctions, the US is touching upon sanctions, to which Iran has to respond.

However, the only consoling fact is that the EU has already warned Trump that it won’t support those sanctions and Trump’s anti-Iranian campaign, which means sanctions won’t be extended. As the USA, the EU and Iran concluded nuclear deal as a result of complicated negotiations lasting for decades, didn’t they?” Ali Salami said.

Touching upon Armenia-Iran relations perspective, the Iranian political scientist stated that after the nuclear deal those relations are at the stage of revelation, peak of which was Iran’s president Hassan Rouhani’s visit to Armenia and the wide spectrum covered during that visit. He believes the most interesting, perspective project is joining the Black Sea to the Caspian Gulf, by which both the USA and Iran are interested, from which both Armenia and Georgia will benefit. “However, I don’t exclude that Armenia, which already has restrictions, may take the US opinion into consideration as well. I want to stress although in the period of sanctions Armenia-Iran relations didn’t develop, friendship and good ties will be kept. At the moment less ambitious projects are available, like Armenia-Iran free trade zone development, boosting trade turnover, connecting Iran to EEU, toward which active works will continue,” Salami said.

Regarding how Iran-USA tension will be reflected in NK conflict zone, Salami said he doesn’t consider they will be reflected in any way.

“The situation of war threat has consistently been maintained within this conflict. As the developments showed, external developments impacted less on the situation in the conflict zone, except last year’s four-day war, when Russia-Turkey relations were tense,” Iranian analyst said.

By Araks Martirosyan