Iran and Armenia Stress Expansion of Cooperation and Support for Peace in the Caucasus

WANA (Aug 19) – Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, during his official visit to Armenia and at a joint press conference with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, emphasized the importance of peace and stability in the Caucasus, stating: “For the Islamic Republic of Irpan, peace in the region is a strategic priority, and we support the peace negotiations between Azerbaijan and Armenia.”

The Iranian president reiterated Tehran’s consistent position against any change to international borders in the Caucasus, adding: “This region must not become an arena for geopolitical rivalries.” Expressing gratitude to the Armenian government and people for their hospitality, he described Armenia as “an important neighbor with deep historical and cultural ties to Iran.”

Pezeshkian highlighted the Armenian community’s presence in Iran and the two nations’ cultural and civilizational commonalities as evidence of their longstanding friendly relations. Referring to a verse by Hafez about the Aras River, he noted: “The peace and prosperity of our neighbors, including Armenia, align with Iran’s national interests, and regional convergence is the key to sustainable security and development.”

He stressed that the Islamic Republic of Iran has always supported Armenia’s territorial integrity and opposed any use of force or military threats in the region. “Politics and governance in the Caucasus must remain in the hands of Caucasian nations,” he said, “and handing over these matters to extra-regional forces will only create further complications.”

Elsewhere in his remarks, Pezeshkian pointed to recent agreements between the two countries: “Numerous documents and memoranda of understanding have been signed, and the swift implementation of these, along with exchanges of delegations and high-level meetings, are on the agenda.” He expressed hope that bilateral trade would reach 3 billion dollars, stressing cooperation in energy, transportation, technical and engineering services, tourism, pharmaceuticals, and medical equipment.

He also underlined the importance of the Persian Gulf–Black Sea corridor: “Iran and Armenia share common interests in this project. Expanding rail and road connections, developing border markets, and facilitating truck transit are essential needs for bilateral relations.”

Signing of Memorandum of Understanding between Armenia and Iran . Social media / WANA News Agency

Pashinyan: Recent Agreements a Chance for Iran’s Access to the Black Sea

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, for his part, thanked President Pezeshkian for his “impartial assessment” of the recent agreements between Yerevan and Baku, stating: “These agreements will create new opportunities for rail cooperation between Iran and Armenia, which will ultimately provide Iran with rail access to the Black Sea.”

According to Pashinyan, this aligns with Armenia’s “Crossroads of Peace” project and could open broad prospects for economic development across the region. He stressed that unblocking communication routes must be carried out with respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of countries and should strengthen dialogue among regional partners.

The Armenian prime minister also announced that he had discussed with the Iranian president the August 8 joint statement in Washington and the ongoing peace process between Armenia and Azerbaijan.