Deputy Minister of Roads and Municipal Development of Iran Kheyrula Khademi says Iran is ready to participate in the construction of a new transit road leading to Georgia through Armenia.

“Armenia is preparing to create a new transit route from Iran to Georgia. We have declared the willingness to participate in the construction of that road,” Khademi said, ILNA agency cites. The official stated that this concerns the new corridor, besides the alternative Goris-Kapan road on which the parties have reached an agreement.

Khademi stated that there is currently a route that links the Eastern Azerbaijan state of Iran to Yerevan. “According to the new changes, the nearly 21-km section of the road is considered a part of Azerbaijan,” the deputy minister added. According to him, the Azerbaijani side isn’t against passing through that short section in which there is only one control checkpoint that charges road fees.

“It is necessary to create an alternative road as soon as possible so that the road no longer passes through the territory of Azerbaijan, which is important for the Armenians and meets their interests,” Khademi stated.