Interfax - Russia & CIS Diplomatic Panorama Thursday 7:46 PM MSK Armenia's ties with Iran not to affect its relations with U.S. - diplomat YEREVAN. Aug 10 Armenia is interested in having deeper relations with Iran and is not worried by the United States' possible reaction to this, Armenian Deputy Foreign Minister Shavarsh Kocharyan said. "Armenia is interested in deeper relations with Iran, and we don't look at the position of other countries on the matter. This can't have a negative effect on Armenia's relations with the U.S.," Kocharyan told journalists on Thursday. Amid tensions in U.S.-Iranian relations, the U.S. has "treated our ties with Iran with understanding, because we are honest in our foreign policy," he said. Kocharyan also acknowledged that U.S. sanctions against Russia may have a negative effect on Armenia's economy. "When the Russian economy sees negative trends, they affect all of its neighbors. This affects EAEU [Eurasian Economic Union] member Armenia, this affects EAEU non-member Azerbaijan, and this affects Georgia, which is moving towards the EU. Countries that are linked to Russia in this way or that - in terms of workforce, economic relations, or the sale of goods - may naturally feel negative influences," Kocharyan said. Armenia should expand existing economic relations with EAEU countries and other states and also build and develop ties with new countries, he said. "The economic component of EAEU membership is very important to Armenia, and this also makes up the foundation of national security," he said.