Complying with U.S. sanctions against Iran’s aviation sector and closing Armenia’s airspace to Iranian aircraft would harm Armenia much more than Iran, Ehsan Mohavedian, an expert on the South Caucasus from Tehran, told NEWS.am, referring to the possible consequences of such a scenario.

“Iran is Armenia’s only truly reliable neighbor. Given that Armenia is landlocked, it needs to strengthen its economic and transit ties with Iran, securing access to the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman, in order to ensure successful and expanding trade.

“In this context, Armenia’s compliance with what I consider unreasonable and unlawful U.S. sanctions and demands concerning aviation would harm Armenia itself more than it would Iran.

Of course, Iran also needs access through Armenian territory to reach the Caucasus and the Black Sea. Therefore, I believe Armenia, much like Turkey and Iraq, can find a way to maintain daily flights between Tehran and Yerevan without facing the risk of sanctions.

It will require mutual initiatives and the goodwill of both governments to address this new challenge and further strengthen our longstanding friendly relations,” Mohavedian said.