Yerevan expects to retain balance in relations with Iran after reinstatement of U.S. sanctions - Foreign Ministry
YEREVAN. Nov 6 (Interfax) - Armenia will try to retain balance in its relations with Iran and other international partners after the United States reinstated its sanctions on Iran, Armenian Deputy Foreign Minister Karen Nazaryan said on Tuesday.
"We are developing our relationships with Iran not at the expense of our relationships with the U.S. This requires great diplomatic, political, and economic efforts, especially as the international sanctions have taken effect," Nazaryan said while taking questions from Armenian parliamentarians on Tuesday.
"Armenia's diplomatic maneuvering is extremely important," he said.
"We have managed to do this so far. I hope that, by way of substantive and transparent discussions, we will be able to retain this critical balance, as far as the matter concerns relations between Armenia and Iran and between Armenia and other partners," Nazaryan said.
The U.S. sanctions on Iran, which had been in place before the signature of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) on the Iranian nuclear program of 2015, were reinstated on Monday.
The sanctions are targeted chiefly at Iran's oil industry, banking infrastructure, shipbuilding and maritime transportation, and some other economic industries. The sanctions concern not only Tehran but also countries and foreign companies maintaining business ties with their Iranian partners.