The Iranian president and the Armenian prime minister met on Friday on the sidelines of the funeral and farewell ceremonies for the martyred Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei.

Pashinyan conveyed the condolences and sympathy of the Armenian government and people over the martyrdom of Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei.

Pezeshkian thanked the Armenian prime minister for attending the ceremonies and for the messages of condolence from Yerevan, describing them as a reflection of the deep historical ties and friendly relations between the two neighboring countries.

He said relations between Tehran and Yerevan have always been based on mutual respect, good neighborliness, and shared interests, adding that the two countries have successfully expanded cooperation in various fields over the years.

The Iranian president also expressed appreciation for Armenia’s cooperation and support during the recent US-Israeli war of aggression against Iran and the difficult circumstances faced by the Iranian people, describing Yerevan’s responsible approach as a valuable contribution to stronger bilateral ties and regional stability.

Pezeshkian voiced hope that negotiations on a comprehensive cooperation treaty between Iran and Armenia would soon be finalized and signed, saying the strategic document would open new horizons for bilateral relations and advance the mutual interests of both countries. He stressed the importance of strengthening customs, transportation, transit infrastructure, and economic exchanges.

He further emphasized that relations between Iran and Armenia should remain free from external interference and be guided solely by the common will of the two nations. Experience, he said, has shown that the involvement of extra-regional powers has failed to resolve regional issues and has instead contributed to greater instability.

Reaffirming Iran’s regional policy, Pezeshkian said countries in the region possess the capacity to resolve their own problems through dialogue, cooperation, and mutual respect. He also reiterated Iran’s commitment to respecting the sovereignty, territorial integrity, and internationally recognized borders of all countries, stressing that Tehran supports political and diplomatic solutions to disputes.

Referring to recent regional developments, the Iranian president described the Zionist regime as the principal source of instability in West Asia, saying its continued aggression against Lebanon, Gaza, Syria, and Iran poses a serious threat to regional peace and security.

For his part, Pashinyan expressed his deep condolences to the Iranian government and people, saying it was important for him to travel to Tehran during this period of mourning to personally convey Armenia’s sympathy.

The Armenian prime minister recalled his two meetings with the martyred Leader of the Islamic Revolution, describing both as cordial, constructive, and based on mutual respect. He said news of Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei’s martyrdom deeply saddened both the Armenian people and government.

Pashinyan stressed that Armenia has consistently sought not only to avoid taking any action against Iran’s interests but also to stand alongside the Islamic Republic within the framework of good-neighborly relations.

He described current Iran-Armenia relations as being at their highest level since Armenia’s independence, citing expanding cooperation in political, economic, trade, infrastructure, and regional affairs.

The Armenian premier also reaffirmed that Iran’s security is of special importance to Armenia, pledging that his country has not participated and will not participate in any plan or initiative directed against Iran’s interests or security.

He added that Armenia conducts its foreign relations transparently and remains ready to discuss any concerns raised by its Iranian friends.

Pashinyan concluded by emphasizing that relations between Iran and Armenia are built on trust, friendship, and mutual respect, pledging that under no circumstances would his government allow those ties to be undermined.