“It is entirely natural that Iran is concerned about the presence of its adversaries and enemies along its northern border,” Iranian expert Alireza Khoda Gholipour, Director General of the Center for Political and International Studies in Tehran, who has worked at Iran’s Foreign Ministry for many years, said on NEWS.am’s “Factor of Power” program, referring to Tehran’s concerns regarding the Trump Route (TRIPP) to be established in Syunik and the reasons behind them.

According to him, Iran’s leadership sees far-reaching goals behind TRIPP that pose a threat to their security.

“If they are sincere and honestly want to implement this project with positive goals - to ensure stability, prosperity and development in the region, to solve the problems of the countries of the region - then you welcome it. But I doubt that this is their real intention.

“After the aggression carried out by the United States and Israel against Iran, Iran’s perception of threats has changed, and our security concerns have deepened even further. Therefore, it is entirely natural that Iran is concerned about the presence of its adversaries and enemies near its borders. Iran cannot accept and tolerate this. If something happens that will put Iran’s security at risk, we will not leave it unanswered,” the Iranian expert said.

In response to the question of why Iran’s concerns have still not been dispelled, if the Armenian government is constantly assuring that no threat to Iran will arise if TRIPP is implemented, Gholipour emphasized that they need not merely verbal assurances, but specific guarantees.

“We need guarantees. The Armenian government, as you mentioned, has always assured the Iranian side that it will not allow third parties to use its territory against Iran or any other country in the region. This is very natural, and we are very grateful for that. But there must be guarantees on which this is based,” he said.

Gholipour emphasized that, whatever happens, Iran will not accept a change in the internationally recognized borders of the region.

“Iran will not accept the blocking, alteration or severing of the connection between Iran and Armenia. I mean the 44-kilometer border that we have with Armenia. Iran will not allow harm to be caused to its transit significance,” Gholipour stressed.