Iran and Armenia agree to deepen ties during defence minister's visit to Tehran

Iran and Armenia have agreed to promote closer defence relations during a visit to Tehran by Armenia’s Defence Minister, Suren Papikyan, where he held talks with senior Iranian officials.

Papikyan met President Masoud Pezeshkian, Chairman of the Chief of Staff of Iran’s Armed Forces Major General Abdolrahim Mousavi, and Defence Minister Brigadier General Aziz Nasirzadeh during his visit on Tuesday.

According to official sources, the expansion of bilateral defence ties and developments in the South Caucasus were key topics of discussion.

“Iran is determined to finalise the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Agreement with Armenia,” President Pezeshkian told the visiting minister.

He said Tehran was “serious” about strengthening economic cooperation and transport corridor projects with Yerevan, given the friendly relations between the two governments.

General Mousavi also expressed Tehran’s satisfaction with the peace process between neighboring Armenia and Azerbaijan. 

Further expansion

According to the state news agency IRNA, quoting defence sources, the chairman of the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces also reaffirmed Iran’s readiness to expand defence cooperation with Armenia.

Meanwhile, Defence Minister Nasirzadeh welcomed the further development of ties with Armenia within the framework of mutual understanding and strategic partnership.

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“Regional security must be ensured through interaction and cooperation of regional states,” said General Nasirzadeh, rejecting the presence of foreign countries in the region.

The visit came on the eve of indirect nuclear talks between Iran and the U.S., scheduled for Thursday in Geneva, amid escalating tensions and speculation of conflict between Tehran and Washington following the U.S. military build-up in the region.

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Iran Armenia South Caucasus