YEREVAN. - Reuters’ publication on Armenia-Iran relations was explained by West’s aspiration to check the attitude of Armenia and Iran, expert in Iranian studies Vardan Voskanyan said in an interview with Armenian News-NEWS.am.

Iran cannot conduct illegal transactions in Armenia for financing its nuclear project as it is mentioned in the article. “Armenia and Iran are on their way of implementing large-scale projects such as construction of Tabriz-Yeraskh pipeline and other projects. But neither of the states breaks the UN sanctions,” said Voskanyan.

Suspicion regarding the Armenian branch of Iranian Mellat Bank is ungrounded as it’s not on UN “black list”.

“The article and the references lack exact names, only reference to unpublished report of UN experts is made. Accordingly the article has an objective to check how far Armenian and Iranian relationship can go for the West,” said Voskanyan.

According to the expert, the cooperation between Armenia and Iran is in all cases mutually beneficial, especially when considering Armenia’s blockade by Turkey and Azerbaijan and West’s pressure on Iran.