Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan announced on August 19 that Armenia and Iran have agreed to elevate their bilateral relations to the level of a “strategic partnership.” The statement came during a joint press conference with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, who is on an official visit to Yerevan.

Pashinyan emphasized the deep-rooted nature of Armenian-Iranian relations, describing them as built on mutual trust and a historical friendship that has “withstood the test of time with honor and intertwined the paths of the two peoples.” He expressed confidence that Pezeshkian’s visit would give a strong impetus to the development of ties between the two neighbors.

“We concurred that it is high time to work toward elevating the relations between our countries to the level of strategic partnership,” Pashinyan declared, underlining the importance of strengthening cooperation in various sectors.

Armenia and Iran also reached an agreement to construct a second bridge on their shared border, Pashinyan announced during the joint press conference. Highlighting the growing economic cooperation between the two neighbors, he said that Armenia and Iran are steadily approaching the $1 billion trade turnover target, with plans to increase it to $3 billion in the future. “We’ve factually approached the 1 billion threshold and we are consistently working to achieve the next target,” he noted, pointing to opportunities created by Iran’s free trade agreement with the Eurasian Economic Union.

The Armenian Prime Minister outlined several key areas of collaboration, including economy, infrastructure, energy, healthcare, culture, and environmental protection, alongside a robust political dialogue. Among the major infrastructure projects, he emphasized the strategic importance of the 32-kilometer Kajaran-Agarak section of the North-South transport corridor, currently being constructed by an Iranian company. Pashinyan expressed confidence that the project would be completed within the planned timeframes.

“Given the daily growing volume of transportation between our countries, we agreed to build a second bridge on the Armenian-Iranian border,” Pashinyan stated.

The two leaders also discussed energy cooperation, including the Armenia-Iran third power transmission line project, which is expected to significantly increase Armenia’s electricity exports to Iran. Pashinyan stressed the need for the project’s swift completion, reaffirming that Armenia attaches great importance to its strategic partnership with Iran.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian reaffirmed Tehran’s commitment to regional stability, declaring that peace in the South Caucasus is a “strategic priority” for Iran. He expressed strong support for the ongoing peace negotiations between Armenia and Azerbaijan. “Iran’s position has been the unchangeability of borders because we believe that such changes could cause geopolitical competition,” he said. Emphasizing Iran’s consistent policy, he stated, “We have always defended Armenia’s territorial integrity, that’s our policy, and we oppose any use of force in the region.”

Pezeshkian also underscored Tehran’s opposition to the involvement of external powers in the South Caucasus, noting that disputes should be resolved exclusively by regional countries. “We wish peace to our neighbors,” he concluded.

In parallel, Armenia’s Deputy Prime Minister Mher Grigoryan held talks with Seyyed Hamid Pourmohammadi, Iran’s Vice President and Head of the Planning and Budget Organization. Grigoryan welcomed the meeting as an opportunity to exchange views on issues of mutual interest, particularly in light of the Iranian presidential delegation’s visit.

The discussions focused on expanding trade and economic cooperation, as well as on unblocking regional transportation links in accordance with the principles of territorial integrity, sovereignty, jurisdiction, and reciprocity. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to deeper cooperation and agreed to establish working groups to develop practical solutions and ensure the implementation of joint projects.

Armenia, Iran to Review Transit Tariffs and Expand Air Connectivity

Armenian Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructures Davit Khudatyan met with Iranian Minister of Roads and Urban Development Farzaneh Sadegh as part of President Masoud Pezeshkian’s official visit to Armenia. Highlighting the importance of Iran as a strategic partner, Khudatyan expressed gratitude for Tehran’s assistance following the 2024 floods in Lori and Tavush, including the donation of metal bridges.

The two ministers discussed progress on the 32-kilometer Kajaran-Agarak section of the North-South Road Corridor, a project being implemented by an Iranian company. Khudatyan praised the pace of construction and the company’s efforts to meet deadlines.

The meeting also addressed the possibility of revising the tariff policy for transit cargo shipments to facilitate smoother trade flows. Both sides agreed to establish a working group to resolve the issue promptly.

Aviation connectivity was another key topic. Khudatyan emphasized the growing demand in Armenia for flights to Iran and underlined the importance of expanding regular air connections with various Iranian cities.