Stretching to 1,072 kilometers, Aras River is one of the largest rivers in the Caucasus, and one of the most important rivers in Iran which besides attracting tourism and positive ecosystem effects, has important potential for fishing.

The river has become a source of pollution posing threats to people’s lives residing northwestern part of the country due to the flow of heavy metals out of the Armenian factories over the past decade.

An Iranian delegation led by Iraj Heshmati, the deputy head of Iran’s Department of Environment, traveled to Armenia to attend the 25th meeting of the representatives of the two countries, held in Yerevan on November 15 -16, to address the problem of Aras contamination, the Department of Environment reported.

Iran’s ambassador, Mehdi Sobhani, and Armenia’s head of the Department of Environment, Hakob Simidyan, were present in the meeting, as well.

The two countries announced their readiness for cooperation and technical consultation to completely stop the discharge of industrial wastewater into the river.

At the end of this meeting, a memorandum of understanding was signed by Heshmati and Gayane Gabrielyn, his Armenian counterpart.

Accordingly, the officials agreed to take action to resolve the issue of mineral and industrial pollution and completely stop the flow of pollution into Aras River within a year.

The two parties also agreed to conduct several joint investigations by three expert groups, including the joint expert group on mines, particularly copper and molybdenum, the joint expert group for monitoring the water quality of Aras River, and the joint monitoring and supervision expert group.

The expert groups’ meeting will be held each month virtually or in-person to present the results of their findings and technical solutions to the heads of the delegations of the two countries.

It was also decided that the first meeting of the heads of delegations of the two countries to be held in late February 2024 in Agarak and Jolfa with the presence of the heads of three expert groups to decide on future actions.

Heavy metals flowing into Aras River

In 2019, an agricultural researcher, Ahmad Baybordi, told IRNA that there were remnants of heavy metals in the river without a doubt.

Citing over a decade of Aras water pollution as a result of the wastewater inflow from Armenia, he said that the University of Medical Sciences asked me to conduct a water and sediment monitoring study at the Aras River.

The University of Tabriz and the Ministry of Agriculture research center at that time discovered the contamination of Aras River with heavy metals based on the analysis of monitoring carried out, he said.

He went on to lament that the Ardabil provincial water company had also conducted monitoring of water, soil, and aquatic species in the river, and the results showed that the river was contaminated with heavy metals.

Pointing out that conservatism is not allowed when it comes to public health, he added that Aras contamination is a scientific and environmental issue that must be scientifically investigated and declared.

We started a project with university students residing in a village on the outskirts of Aras to monitor water and sediment in the river, he noted, adding that the project was carried out in two areas before Nordoz (as pollution-free areas) and after Nordoz (as polluted areas) and the findings showed the heavy metal contamination.

Aluminum, copper, iron, and arsenic have been found in the river which were 10 times the safe limits, he regretted.

He further said that I have closely watched the activity of Armenian factories, adding “I would definitely say that the industrial effluent flows into Aras and the color of the water is turning green because of the high concentration of heavy metal.”

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Tehran Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture (TCCIMA) hosted an Iran-Armenia business forum on Sunday during which the attendees underlined the significant position of Armenia as Iran’s only land gateway for entering Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) markets.

Iran’s commercial attaché in Yerevan Akbar Godari, Head of Iran-Armenia Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industry Yarijanian, and Head of Aras Free Zone Organization Majid Kiani were the key speakers at the mentioned business forum.

Speaking in the forum, Mr. Yaijanian said that 15 countries are neighboring Iran and the trade exchanges between them is around $1300b while Iran’s share of this figure is just 1.4% which is expected the figure to increase.

He pointed to the old and friendly ties of Iran and Armenia and said that there has been the least tension between the two countries and they have enjoyed good coexistence.

He added that good relations of governments have provided good ground for broadening economic relation especially in the private sector, adding that Mellat Bank of Iran has opened its branch in Yerevan two weeks ago and this bank is unique in form and performance.

Elsewhere in the event, Yarijanian pointed to the positive relations between Iran and Armenia and stated: “In the last 30 years, the diplomatic relations between the two countries and given that Armenia shares Iran’s only land border with the Eurasian Economic Union, the development of relations with this country provides enormous economic potential.”

Meanwhile Iran’s commercial attache in Yerevan Mr. Godari, for his part, stressed Armenia’s unique geopolitical situation among Iran’s neighboring countries and said: “Armenia is the only EAEU member with which Iran shares land border, and considering the fact that the country’s borders with Azerbaijan and Turkey are currently closed, Armenian market has a lot of potential for Iranian businessmen.”

Over the past year since the 13th government has taken office, nine rounds of negotiations have been held between Iran and the Eurasian Economic Union, and issues related to the implementation of a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between the two sides have been resolved, Godari said.

“The negotiations are in the legislative stage and will be finalized within the next few months,” he announced.

Stating that in the last two years, numerous Iranian company representatives and business delegations have visited Armenia, Godari said: “The market of this country has a big difference with some neighboring countries; in Armenia, products are imported from many countries all around the world, so, Iranian products have to compete with world-class products.”

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During the mentioned gathering, the officials discussed the preparations for the Joint Economic Committee meeting, the portal of the Iranian Energy Ministry Paven reported.

In this meeting, which was attended by a large number of deputy ministers, senior officials, ambassadors, and members of parliament of the two countries, the main issues that play a key role in the development of relations between the two countries were discussed.

According to the officials, the purpose of holding the 17th meeting of the Iran-Armenia Joint Economic Committee is the real and tangible development of relations between the two countries.

Among the issues raised at the meeting were transit, transportation, facilitation of trade, and broader cooperation in the field of energy.

Following the Tuesday meeting, the two countries’ 17th Joint Economic Committee meeting officially kicked off on Wednesday and four specialized committees including energy, trade, cultural heritage, tourism, and transportation started their negotiations.

The first day of the two countries’ Joint Economic Committee meeting was held at the secretariates level.

Iran and Armenia have been taking serious measures to boost economic ties in line with the two countries’ positive political relations.

In late April, Iranian Finance and Economic Affairs Minister Ehsan Khandouzi headed a delegation on a visit to Armenia to hold talks with the country’s senior officials with the aim of expanding economic ties between the two nations.

During the visit, Khandouzi met with Armenia’s Deputy Prime Minister Mher Herbert Grigoryan, the country’s Economy Minister Vahan Kerobyan, and Minister of Finance Tigran Khachatryan.

The official discussed the preparations for holding the two countries’ 17th Joint Economic Committee meeting in his meetings with the Armenian officials.

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“This visit is focused on deepening ties between Iran and Armenia via joint ventures,” said Fatemi-Amin upon his arrival in the Armenian capital of Yerevan on Thursday.

The Iranian minister is heading a high-ranking delegation, including trade officials and CEOs of private companies. This is the first visit to Armenia by high-ranking Iranian officials since President Ebrahim Raisi took office back in August 2021.

Expanding trade diplomacy with regional states tops the agenda of the new Iranian administration. Fatemi-Amin has already made several trips to the Persian Gulf states of the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Oman to boost bilateral trade relations.

The Iranian minister also described Armenia as an important trade partner whose economy complements that of Iran’s.

“Armenia as a member state of the Eurasian Economic Union and a neighboring country of Iran is of great significance. The economies of Iran and Armenia are complementary. We can export technology in many industrial sectors to Armenia and import our required industrial know-how from Armenia,” said the Iranian minister.

The Republic of Armenia is a landlocked country located in northwestern Iran and the two countries share a 44-kilometer border.

Trade relations between Iran and Armenia have dramatically expanded after Iran signed a Free Trade Agreement with the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) in October 2019.

Under the three-year preferential trade deal, EAEU and Tehran are obliged to accept the conditions for achieving a full free trade plan for tariff-free essential commodities.

Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Russia are the member states of EAEU.

“Iranian companies, including those manufacturing home appliances as well as food industries, can invest in Armenia to produce and export their products to other countries. We will also invite some Armenian companies to invest in Iran during the meeting with high-ranking Armenian officials.” Fatemi-Amin noted.

Given its relatively low trade tariffs (4%) with North American countries like Canada, Armenia can serve as a platform facilitating the export of Iranian products to such markets.

The value of Iran-Armenia trade volume stood at $304 million during the last Persian calendar year starting from March 21, 2020 to March 20, 2021, with both sides planning to beef up bilateral trade.

During his two-day visit to Armenia, the Iranian minister is to meet top officials, among them the Armenian minister of economy, the deputy prime minister as well as head of Armenia’s central bank.

Implementation of trade agreements, facilitating trade between Iranian and Armenian private sectors, cooperation in free zones, commodity trade, transportation and customs are among the economic issues to be discussed in the meetings between Iranian officials and Armenian counterparts.

Armenia can potentially serve as a transit route for Iranian goods, technology as well as machinery, technical and engineering services to Russia and even to European countries.

According to General Manager of Iran’s Road Maintenance and Transportation Organization Javad Hedayati, Iran’s main transit route to Europe is through Turkey and Azerbaijan, but Armenia is still important as an alternative in case a problem arises with the two corridors.

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Speaking to ILNA, Yarijanian said that in the past the consignment took between 8 to 9 hours to be shipped to Yerevan, the capital city of Armenia, from the border but through opening new routes and roads, those transited consignments which are shipped from Tehran towards Yerevan can reach in shorter time. He added that there are some roads under construction in Armenia which link the country to Georgia and a bridge between Armenia and Georgia is under construction as the project is carried out by an Iranian company which will boost the pace of transit of goods.

He then reacted to reopening of roads between Armenia and Azerbaijan and also this claim that Nakhchivan will be connected to Azerbaijan, and said all those efforts and remarks are the long term ideas and it cannot happen overnight because it needs some pre-conditions for reopening of the roads.

He said since Iran and Armenia are strategic partners of each other and they are also neighbors, these factors cannot affect their trade. He added that despite sanctions against Iran, Armenian Government continues cooperating with Iran and they have very close relations in terms of trade, tourism, politics and economy.

Yarijanian stated that inauguration and reopening of the roads can accelerate the trade between Tehran and Yerevan and they can continue their trade faster and more agile. He said that several joint investments from Iran and Armenia are underway and it is unlikely such simple incidents to overshadow their bilateral trade.

He reiterated that the more access to the international markets and uses safer roads, the more Iran’s trade will be agile. He said today Iran’s roads to reach Russian market are limited but due to the strong determination of Iran and Armenia, increasing the roads and making them safer will definitely provide Iran with better routes.

Yarijanian emphasized that according to the international pacts, Azerbaijan cannot change its borders with Armenia, and Baku will not be able to use other country as its own corridor.

On vaccinating Iranians with COVID-19 vaccines, he said that according to the regulations of the health ministry, those who have had their first jabs of COVID-19 vaccines abroad have to take the second doses abroad, too. He added that therefore those Iranians who had first doses of COVID-19 vaccines in Armenia have to take the second doses in that country but Armenia has its own regulations. Therefore, according to the Armenian rules, Iranians have to stay at least five days in Armenia in order to take their second doses of vaccines. He said so far the exact details on the number of vaccinated Iranians in Armenia have not been published because Armenia publishes the details after the second jabs.

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IRAN NEWS POLITICAL DESK

TEHRAN  – President Hassan Rouhani announced the country’s readiness to play a role in helping to strengthen the ceasefire between Azerbaijan and Armenia and to stabilize the region.

He made the remarks in his meeting with Minister of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan Jeyhun Bayramov on Wednesday.

Referring to the clear positions of the Islamic Republic of Iran in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and support for the territorial integrity of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Rouhani expressed satisfaction with the end of the war between the two countries and the liberation of the occupied territories of Azerbaijan and the establishment of a ceasefire.

He pointed to Iran’s plan for ending the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict by sending a special envoy to Russia, Azerbaijan and Armenia and announced the country’s readiness to play a constructive role in helping to strengthen the ceasefire between the two countries and establish stability in the region.

Emphasizing the need to use the borders of Iran and Azerbaijan to develop economic and trade cooperation, the Iranian president said, “With the end of the Trump era in the United States and the coming to power of the new administration in this country, we feel that countries will have better conditions for cooperation.”

Rouhani further announced Iran’s readiness to participate in the reconstruction of the liberated areas of Azerbaijan, saying, “Given the proximity of the two countries and the facilities available in Iran, Iran’s participation in the reconstruction of the areas affected by the Nagorno-Karabakh war will be to the benefit of both countries.”

Referring to previous agreements between Iran and Azerbaijan, including the Rasht-Astara railway project, the President stressed the need to accelerate the implementation and operation of the agreements.

“Conditions are in place for the implementation of joint cooperation projects agreed between the two countries, including the Khoda Afarin Dam and the construction of a power plant,” he said, adding, “The two countries can further develop their cooperation in the fields of industry, science, pharmacy and other sectors.”

Rouhani called the relations with the friendly and neighboring country of Azerbaijan good and brotherly, saying, “The will of the Islamic Republic of Iran is to develop relations with the Republic of Azerbaijan, and we hope to use the opportunity to create new international conditions to further develop relations between the two countries.”

Appreciating the support of the Islamic Republic of Iran for the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan, Jeyhun Bayramov, for his part,said,”We consider Iran as our good friend and neighbor, and the will of the President and Azerbaijani officials is the comprehensive development of relations with Iran.”

Referring to the liberation of the occupied territories of this country and the revival of 132 km of border with Iran, he added, “Azerbaijan’s border with Iran is a border of friendship and development, and we believe that the revival of these borders can create new cooperation projects for the two countries.”

He emphasized the development and deepening of relations with Iran in political, economic and trade fields, saying, “The implementation of the Rasht-Astara railway project will increase economic and trade cooperation between the two countries.”

Bayramov expressed hope that with the new international conditions and the removal of existing obstacles caused by US sanctions, joint cooperation projects between the two countries will be implemented and operational quickly.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan also condemned the assassination of the Iranian scientist Martyr Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, stressing, “The assassination of a scientific scientist is not acceptable in any way and we strongly condemn this action.”

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IRAN NEWS ECONOMIC DESK

TEHRAN – Chairman of the Trade Promotion Organization of Iran Hamid Zadboum in a videoconference conferred with Armenia’s deputy Finance minister over expanding trade ties.

During the videoconference, Zadboom expressed hope that both countries by pursuing the agreements would expand cooperation on customs affairs, trade and regional issues.

In the meeting, both sides called for forming a workgroup on industry, mine and trade for reaching a mechanism for bartering goods between Iran and Armenia.

Zadboum said Iran is to join Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) free trade this year and Armenia as the only Eurasian Union state which has border with Iran and it is the only gateway for Iran to have access to the Eurasia through four other countries, and as the result, Iran and Armenia can take advantage of this opportunity.

On how to carry out bartering goods and preparing the list of goods for bartering, the Iranian official said that the primary list of goods has been sent to the Armenian side and in the future, the list will be completed based on the demands of both sides.

Meanwhile in the meeting, both sides emphasized formation of a workgroup on industry, mine and trade to work on several issues like border trade, transit of trucks as well as facilitating the commute of trucks and drivers.

Armenian Deputy Economy Minister Avak Avanesian, for his part, said that Armenian economy ministry will follow the issues stipulated in the meeting for forming the workgroup, adding that he urges all Armenian private companies to join the workgroup.

On the bartering goods, he said both sides can start bartering goods with the list proposed by the Iranian side and in the future, Armenia can complete the list based on its or other Eurasian states’ needs.

He further said both sides need to have weekly meetings in order to reach a mechanism for implementing the bartering agreement electronically.

Avanesian also called for a meeting in upcoming days on resolving the transportation woes in the borders which was welcomed by Zadboum.

Armenian Ambassador to Tehran Artashes Toumanian who was also present in the videoconference pointed to the videoconference held between presidents of both countries last month and called for finalizing the mechanism for bartering goods or bartering goods needed by Iran in exchange for Armenia’s gas debts.

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According To Iran News

“We are determined to increase our relations and cooperation with the Islamic Republic of Iran,” he stated.

Addressing parliamentarians in Armenian Parliament, Pashinyan said, “continuation of political talks between Iran and Armenia have started since my visit to Iran in Feb. 2019.”

“Trade cooperation in border areas with Iran is very important for Armenia and we are looking for deepening this cooperation,” he said.

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani traveled to Armenia at the head of a high-ranking political and economic delegations on Oct. 1 at the official invitation of Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan for participating in Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) Summit.

In his visit to Armenia, President Rouhani held separate talks with Armenian president and prime minister on relevant issues.

In these talks, the two sides exchanged their views on ways of broadening and deepening bilateral relations.

On the sidelines of EAEU Summit, President Rouhani also met and held talks with Singaporean prime minister, presidents of Kazakhstan and Russia and discussed about issues of mutual concerns as well as regional and international developments.

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