The lifting of international sanctions against Iran has opened up “quite a few interesting opportunities” for Armenia’s economy, a senior official from the World Bank said on Tuesday.

Laura Bailey, World Bank Country Manager for Armenia, said the development could speed up the implementation of Armenian-Iranian energy projects, facilitate trade between the two neighboring states, and turn Armenia into a commercial bridge between Iran and the Russian-led Eurasian Economic Union (EEU).

Speaking to RFE/RL Armenian service, Bailey argued that Armenia is the only EEU member state bordering Iran. She suggested that other EEU member states might therefore “invest here to work with Iran.”

“It may also be the other way: that Iran may wish to trade with the EEU and Armenia may pave the way for Iran,” she added.