TEHRAN – The Armenian prime minister has called Iran a very important player in region and the larger world and said this is the reason that Yerevan has established close ties with the Islamic Republic, IRNA reported, quoting ARMENPRESS.

“Iran is a very important player in regional and international issues and this is the reason that we are in close communication with our partners in Iran,” Nikol Pashinyan said in an interview with Public TV on Saturday when asked about the role of Iran in healing the rifts between Armenia and the Republic of Azerbaijan.

In a recent telephone conversation with Iranian officials, Pashinyan said Iran has always played a constructive role in decreasing tensions and resolving crises.

Welcoming the growing ties with Iran, he said, “Armenia is seeking to deepen ties with the Islamic Republic of Iran in all areas.”

Prime Minister Pashinyan visited Iran at the head of a senior political and economic delegation on November 1. He visited Tehran upon an invitation by Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi.

During the visit, Iran and Armenia set the target to develop trade and economic ties to level of 3 billion dollars.

At a joint press conference with President Raisi, Pashinyan said he agrees with the views of the Iranian president on the need to establish durable peace and security in the Caucasus region.

During the Armenian delegation’s visit to Tehran, the two neighboring countries signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on energy cooperation.

Based on the MOU, the two sides agreed on extending a previous agreement on swapping gas for electricity by the end of the Iranian calendar year 1409 (March 2031).

Currently, Iran exports one million cubic meters of gas to Armenia, which will double.

Pashinyan says Armenia ready to take more gas from Iran

In his interview with Public TV, Pashinyan said after the completion of the construction of the third Iran-Armenia power transmission line, Armenia is ready to take more gas from Iran to supply more electricity to Iran.

Referring to the MOU on the extension of the "gas for electricity" contract signed in Iran, the prime minister said. "The essence of the contract is that we take gas from Iran, produce electricity with that gas and return the electricity to Iran, of course, with certain ratios to make it profitable. Now, in practice, the power lines that exist between Armenia and Iran are fully overloaded. And in order for us to consume more gas to generate electricity, we need to be able to export more to Iran. And we will get that opportunity after the construction of the third power line is completed. When the construction is finished, of course we will be ready to take more gas to supply more electricity to Iran."

Referring to the question whether this will not be considered a negative step in the background of Armenian-Russian relations, Pashinyan said Armenia produces electricity with the gas it receives and returns it to Iran, and uses a part for internal needs. "That system exists, there is no contradiction with Russia," the prime minister said.