Iran is pursuing a balanced and quiet policy towards the Transcaucasian states, Armenia’s first President Levon Ter-Petrosyan stated in an interview with Moskovskie Novosti newspaper. He commented on the question whether Iran is the ally Armenia needs, taking into consideration the international community’s strained attitude towards this Islamic country.

“In this case, “a partner” is a more accurate word. “An ally” is another concept, it assumes certain political responsibilities to each other,” Ter-Petrosyan emphasized.

According to him, Iran plays an “interesting role” in the region. “No matter what impression Iran leaves in terms of regional security, we must pay tribute to this country for its balanced and quiet policy towards the states in the South Cacausus. Over the past 20 years Iran has maintained a neutral attitude. I have never seen Iran make any attempt to upset the balance between these states unlike Turkey,” Ter Petrosyan stressed.

According to the Armenian former president, Turkey was once very encouraged by the break-up of the Soviet Union. “Unlike Iran, Turkey thought a vacuum was created in the South Caucasus and this vacuum should be filled. Iran is in solidarity with Azerbaijan in the cultural and religious context, at the same time Tehran maintains normal relations with Armenia. I can clearly say that military assistance from Iran to any of the parties to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict was out of the question. Iran has always sought not to have problems with direct neighbors,” Ter-Petrosyan said.

Commenting on the question whether Iran is a traditional third pole in the Caucasus along with Russia and Turkey, Ter-Petrosyan said: “The only player in  the South Caucasus is Russia,” he noted. 

As for prospects for Armenia to be “between a rock and a hard place” if a conflict breaks out between Iran and U.S., Ter-Petrosyan said: “This is an undesirable scenario. Any conflict on the border with Armenia is very dangerous.”