Acting Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan today hosted visiting Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, noting that Armenia’s relations with Iran are of “strategic importance”.  

“Since the first years of independence, our border with Iran has ensured the security of our country in a number of ways. I am glad to note that there is a similar perception in Iran about our relationship,” Pashinyan remarked.

Pashinyan noted that his government has contact several international bodies, including the CSTO, about the infiltration of Azerbaijani troops into Armenia and is seeking a negotiated resolution of the matter.

“Unfortunately, we already had a victim in this situation yesterday. A serviceman of the Armenian Armed Forces was killed by a firearm fired by the representatives of the Azerbaijani Armed Forces. So, the situation is quite tense. This meeting is a good opportunity to get acquainted with the views of the Islamic Republic of Iran on overcoming the situation,” Pashinyan said.

FM Zarif said that Armenia has always been a good friend of Iran and that relations between the two peoples go back centuries.

“I hope that after the end of this pandemic we will be able to further develop bilateral relations in the economic sphere” Zarif said, noting the importance of the Meghri free economic zone and the scheduled reopening of the Iran-Nakhichevan-Armenia railway.

Zarif said that Tehran wants peace in the region, emphasizing territorial integrity, sovereignty, and the peaceful resolution of crises.

In order to resolve the recent escalations, three visits were made from our country to Armenia. I paid my first visit, our special envoy-envoy visited Armenia after me, and now I am visiting Armenia again.

I'm sorry that you've been a victim of this new escalation. Yesterday, I had a highly detailed and meaningful conversation with the President of Azerbaijan. I hope that our meeting today, like the one I had with my esteemed colleague, will be able to help resolve this crisis,” Zarif said.

During the meeting, the sides discussed steps aimed at resolving the situation on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border.

Zarif stressed his country's interest in ensuring regional stability, fully preserving and ensuring Armenia's territorial integrity.