Deputy Minister and head of Construction and Development of Transport Infrastructures Company in Iran, Kheirollah Khademi, heading a delegation to Armenia informed of the latest agreements between Iran and Armenia for resolving recent transit problems posed by Azerbaijan along a 20-kilometer section of Armenia’s Goris-Kapan Road stretching from Norduz (in Iran) to Yerevan.
During bilateral negotiations on 4 and 5 October, Iran and Armenia reached an agreement with specific timetable. Firstly, as a short-term solution, they agreed to complete road pavement and asphalting of Tatev Road as an immediate alternative route to Goris-Kapan within next 15 to 30 days. Secondly, as a main and long-term alternative route, they agreed to implement the fourth section of North-South Transport Corridor, within Armenia’s territory stretching from Norduz to Yerevan and thence to Georgia.
The northern part of the route (from Yerevan to Georgia) has been completed by Armenia and the southern part toward Norduz border in Iran is remaining which the two sides agreed to launch the construction operations.
Iran has proposed Armenia to use the technical and engineering ptentials of Iranian companies which was welcomed by Armenia.
Azerbaijan is controlling and claiming ownership for approximately 20 km out of a 400 km route from Norduz (in Iran) to Yerevan. Since last month, Azerbaijan has imposed strict regulations to Iranian drivers which are posing major problems for them passing through 20-kilometer section of Armenia’s Goris-Kapan Road including paying tolls levied by Azerbaijani border guards.
Iran and Armenia are seeking ways to bypass Azerbaijan for their traffic.
The Goris-Kapan Road is the main traffic route in southern Armenia. Since the end of the Second Nagorno-Karabakh War, a 20-kilometre section of the road has been under Azerbaijani control. But since early 2021 it has set up border guard posts on their sections of the road, thereby disrupting traffic along the route.