Iranian president thanks Armenia for support during difficult period

Politics13:02, 4 July 2026
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Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian thanked Armenia for its support and solidarity during a difficult period for Iran during a meeting with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan in Tehran on July 3, saying stronger relations between Tehran and Yerevan would benefit both nations.

According to Mehr News Agency, Pezeshkian said the condolences and messages of sympathy received from Armenia reflected the deep historical ties and friendship between the two neighboring countries.

The Iranian president described Iran-Armenia relations as being based on mutual respect, good-neighborliness and shared interests, adding that the two countries have consistently expanded constructive cooperation across various sectors.

He also thanked Armenia for its cooperation during the recent conflict and expressed hope that negotiations on a comprehensive bilateral cooperation agreement would be concluded soon.

“The agreement could open new opportunities for cooperation while strengthening customs, transport, transit, trade and economic exchanges. Relations between Tehran and Yerevan should remain free from external interference and be guided by the independent will of both countries. The presence of extra-regional powers has often complicated regional challenges rather than resolving them,” the Iranian president was quoted as saying.

Pezeshkian also reaffirmed Iran’s foreign policy principles, stressing respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries and reiterating Tehran’s preference for resolving disputes through dialogue and diplomacy.

 Prime Minister Pashinyan, in turn, conveyed Armenia’s condolences to the Iranian government and people.

He reaffirmed Armenia’s commitment to friendly relations with Iran and said Yerevan would never participate in any initiative contrary to Iran’s security or national interests.

He added that bilateral relations are currently at their strongest level since Armenia’s independence.

Pashinyan traveled to Tehran on July 3 to attend the funeral ceremonies for Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

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AI as a pillar of national innovation: Mkhitar Hayrapetyan’s interview with Ap

High Technologies14:02, 4 July 2026
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Armenian Minister of High-Tech Industry Mkhitar Hayrapetyan has given an interview to the Government AI Campus, an initiative of Apolitical.

According to the Ministry of High-Tech Industry, the platform features interviews with policymakers and public sector leaders from countries playing a leading role in the adoption, capacity building and governance of artificial intelligence (AI).

 In the interview, Hayrapetyan outlined Armenia’s vision for building a competitive, responsible and inclusive AI ecosystem. He said Armenia aims to make AI a key driver of economic growth, public sector modernization and improved public services.

Achieving that goal, he noted, requires the parallel development of modern digital infrastructure, broader access to computing resources, stronger AI literacy and the training of a new generation of specialists. One of the interview’s central messages focused on AI literacy, which the minister described as a national priority.

According to Hayrapetyan, technological infrastructure alone is not enough. 

Public servants, private sector professionals, educators and citizens alike need the knowledge and skills to use AI tools effectively, responsibly and safely. Speaking about the role of AI in public administration, Hayrapetyan said the technology can help improve the efficiency of government, enhance the quality of public services, detect fraud and support more data-driven and evidence-based decision-making. 

At the same time, the minister stressed the importance of managing the risks associated with AI, noting that the technology can scale not only efficiency but also mistakes. He warned that bias, privacy risks, cybersecurity challenges, over-reliance on AI-generated content and a lack of transparency could undermine public trust. For that reason, he said, all areas of public administration, including healthcare, must uphold the principles of ethics, human rights, accountability and effective oversight. 

Hayrapetyan also emphasized that AI should support people rather than replace them, helping them make better decisions. 

He highlighted the importance of ensuring broad access to AI capabilities, noting that Armenia is developing a comprehensive ecosystem that combines world-class infrastructure, accessible computing resources, education and broad participation. Reflecting on the impact of AI, Hayrapetyan said the technology will expand rather than limit human creativity.

 According to the minister, digital solutions and automation will allow people to spend less time on routine technical and bureaucratic tasks and more time on creativity, innovation, critical thinking and decision-making that requires human judgment.

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Aliyev says Azerbaijan and Armenia now live in peace in Independence Day messa

Politics14:28, 4 July 2026
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Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has congratulated U.S. President Donald Trump on the 250th anniversary of the independence of the United States, while also expressing appreciation for his efforts to advance the peace agenda in the South Caucasus, particularly between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

Aliyev published the congratulatory message on his X account.

“We also express our profound appreciation for your determined efforts to advance the peace agenda in the South Caucasus and promote sustainable development in the region. The outcomes of the historic trilateral meeting held at the White House on August 8 last year at your initiative have created an entirely new and positive atmosphere in our region. Today, Azerbaijan and Armenia live in peace and are building trade relations,” Aliyev wrote.

The Azerbaijani president also acknowledged the United States’ continued support for infrastructure projects that contribute to regional stability and economic development, particularly the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity, which, according to Aliyev, will provide an alternative, reliable and secure connection between Asia and Europe.

In his message, Aliyev also expressed confidence that Azerbaijan and the United States would continue to strengthen their bilateral relations and deepen their strategic partnership by making full use of the existing potential and opportunities for mutually beneficial cooperation.

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Armenia says ties with US have reached historic milestone in Independence Day

Politics14:39, 4 July 2026
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Armenia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has congratulated the United States on the 250th anniversary of its independence.

The message was posted on the Foreign Ministry’s X account.

“Happy Independence Day to the Government and people of the United States. Armenia and the United States enjoy a historic milestone in bilateral relations, with ample opportunities for further enhancement. We look forward to advancing our ties to the benefit of our peoples,” the ministry said. 

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan had also congratulated U.S. President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance on the 250th anniversary of U.S. independence.

Published by Armenpress, original at 
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Armenpress: Armenia’s Constitutional Court rejects opposition appeals, upholds

Politics19:50, 4 July 2026
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Armenia’s Constitutional Court has rejected appeals filed by opposition political forces challenging the results of the parliamentary elections, leaving unchanged the Central Electoral Commission’s decision on the election outcome.

The court announced its ruling during a session held on July 4. The decision was read out by Constitutional Court President Arman Dilanyan.

The appeals were filed by seven political forces that participated in the parliamentary elections: the Strong Armenia and Armenia alliances, as well as the Prosperous Armenia, Wings of Unity, Democracy, Law and Discipline, New Force, and For the Republic parties. They asked the Constitutional Court to invalidate the election results. The court began hearing the case on June 26.

The ruling Civil Contract party participated in the proceedings as a third party, while the Central Electoral Commission, the Prosecutor General’s Office, the Anti-Corruption Committee, and the Ministry of Internal Affairs were named as respondents.

Following the June 7 parliamentary elections, three political forces secured seats in Armenia’s National Assembly. Civil Contract, which won a parliamentary majority and will form the next government, secured 64 seats, while the Strong Armenia alliance won 29 seats and the Armenia alliance 12.

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Verelq: The Constitutional Court rejected the election results as invalid

There was no surprise. not long ago, the Constitutional Court of the Republic of Armenia rejected the claim of the political parties to declare the results of the elections invalid.


According to the judgment of the CC, the decision of CEC 259 A is “left in force”, it is final and not subject to appeal.


To remind, after the June 7 elections, 7 political forces: “Strong Armenia” and “Armenia” alliances, “Prosperous Armenia”, “Wings of Unity”, “Democracy, Law, Discipline”, “Alliance of Defenders of Democracy for the Republic of the Republic”, “New Power” parties applied to the CC with the demand to declare the election results invalid.

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Asbarez: Constitutional Court Rejects Opposition Appeals, Upholds Election Res

Chief Justice Dilanyan reads the Constitutional Court’s ruling on Jul. 4 (Video screen grab)


Armenia’s Constitutional Court on Saturday upheld the results of the June 7 Parliamentary Elections by rejecting the appeals filed by seven political forces that sought to challenge the results of the elections.

The ruling was announced by Chief Justice Arman Dilanyan, who oversaw the week-long hearings into opposition appeals.

The appeals were brought separately by the Strong Armenia and Armenia alliances, as well as the Prosperous Armenia, the Wings of Unity, Democracy, Law, Discipline, Union of Defenders of Democracy for the Republic, and New Force parties. The New Force party later withdrew from the proceedings.

The defendants were the Central Election Commission, while the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Prosecutor General’s Office, and the Anti-Corruption Committee participated as co-defendants. The Civil Contract party took part in the proceedings as a third party. Hearings before the Constitutional Court began on June 26.

The ruling leaves the June 7 election results unchanged.

According to the Central Election Commission, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s Cilvil Contract Party won the June 7 elections with 49.8 percent of the vote. Strong Armenia came in second with 23.3 percent, followed by former president Robert Kocharian’s Hayastan alliance (almost 10 percent). Businessman Gagik Tsarukyan’s Prosperous Armenia Party did not secure the necessary votes to enter parliament.

The CEC awarded most of the parliament seats claimed by the Prosperous Armenia Party to Civil Contract. This enabled the ruling party to have a 60 percent parliamentary majority required for enacting key laws and installing senior law-enforcement officials and judges. However, Pashinyan’s party was unable to secure a two-thirds majority needed for passing key legislation, including amendments to Armenia’s Constitution.

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168: The taxman is attacking the business. The business will be given 1 week

July 4, 2026

The business will be given 1 week to pay the taxes. In case of non-payment of taxes within one week, the taxman will seize business accounts, movable and immovable properties.

After that, if the taxes are not paid within 30 days, they will apply to the enforcement service with the demand to confiscate the liabilities.

Legislative changes were made in the Tax Code and a new tax payment procedure was established, by which they will force businesses to pay taxes within 7 days from July 1.

“According to the new regulation, a reminder will be sent to the taxpayer on the day of the tax liability through the electronic reporting system. If the obligation is not settled within 7 calendar days after sending the reminder, and the submitted objections are not accepted or objections are not submitted, the tax authority will adopt decisions on the collection of the obligation on the same day, as well as on imposing a lien on the funds of the taxpayer’s bank accounts and movable and immovable property subject to registration or accounting in accordance with the law.

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If the tax liability is not settled within 30 days after the date of the injunction, the appropriate decisions will be submitted to the Enforcement Service for the purpose of enforcement,” the State Revenue Committee warns businesses.

What this means for business is not difficult to understand. All those who, for various reasons, are unable to fulfill their tax obligations on time will be in danger of being hit by the taxman and being shut down.

It’s a little bit, they will block the accounts, and they will put a hold on movable and immovable property. The property that has production significance.

This means that they will paralyze the business activity, they will force them to stop the work until they fulfill their tax obligations.

Timely fulfillment of tax obligations is the duty of any business. But it is not a good day when the business cannot pay taxes on time. That is why they usually use the mechanism of fines. Penalties are calculated for unpaid taxes.

This approach is important because it gives the business time and opportunity to fix its back. It can happen that for 1 month, 2 months, maybe 3 months the business affairs will go badly and it will not be able to pay taxes. After that, the financial problems will be settled, and it will be able to fulfill not only current, but also previously incurred obligations.

This previously operating system gave business a chance to work and recover. Something that, in fact, is excluded by the new regulations.

With the new regulations, business does not get time to come to its senses. The taxman suddenly appears and seizes the business’s accounts, deprives him of the opportunity to use his movable and immovable property. He just locks and closes the doors of the business. He gives time to pay the taxes within 30 days, otherwise he threatens to confiscate the property.

After the expiration of 30 days, enforcement officers enter and confiscate the movable and immovable properties under arrest. Naturally, after the arrest, they are put up for sale in order to pay the business taxes.

Here is the entire process that will take place with these new tax regulations, which will be imposed on businesses that cannot pay taxes on time from July 1. They will no longer wait when they will have the opportunity to do it.

It is difficult to say what part of businesses today are unable to fulfill their tax obligations on time. But there are certainly not a few of them. And all of them, after these new regulations, will be in danger of being hit, of stopping their business activities.

There is no official explanation as to why they decided to put the business under such severe administrative pressure right now. It can be assumed that there has been an increase in the number of businesses that are unable to pay taxes on time and accumulate overdue debts.

Of course, the problem of overdue debts has always existed in Armenia, but there was never an attempt to introduce such regulations before. It is not excluded that now this phenomenon has spread so much that they have gone to such strictures, not even taking into account that it is a serious risk for ensuring the continuity of business activities. This will lead to the bankruptcy and closure of many businesses, the consequences of which will later be expressed both on the economy and on the same tax revenues.

Closing a business is in no one’s interest, but this will lead to it. There are many businesses that cannot pay taxes on time due to financial problems. Under these new arrangements, they will have to raise funds to pay or be forced into bankruptcy.

If the problem is in ensuring the current tax revenues of the budget, judging by the official announcements, there should be no need to introduce such strictures. They even talk about tax overpayment. Although, on the other hand, on the eve of the elections, they took so many new spending obligations, which are not supported by the tax revenues provided by the state budget. And now, as a matter of fact, they are trying to solve these problems with such strictures.

For the same purpose, immediately after the elections, they increased the tax burden on sub-excise goods, from January 1 they will implement widespread stamping of goods, they are going to deprive the micro-enterprises that do not issue 3 times a tax receipt from the opportunity to work in the field of micro-business and turnover tax for 5 years.

It is expected that in the near future such “innocent” tax regulations will continue in various fields, which will burden businesses and consumers. They are already planning to charge a state duty even for importing mobile phones for personal use.

HAKOB KOCHARYAN




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They received regular awards in the National Assembly. Alen Simo, who is leaving the position of NA Speaker

July 4, 2026

Alen Simonyan, who is retiring from the position of NA Speaker, signed the order regarding the regular award, by which he awarded the deputies of the National Assembly and government employees.

In command it is specifically mentioned. “Guided by clauses 12 and 22 of part 2 of article 5 of the “Rules of Procedure of the National Assembly” constitutional law, I order:

1. On the occasion of the Constitution Day, to encourage the deputies of the National Assembly, civil servants and employees of the National Assembly staff with a one-time monetary reward, according to the appendices.

2. Head-Secretary General of the National Assembly, Davit Arakelyan, to ensure the execution of relevant payments in accordance with the legislation of the Republic of Armenia.”

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The decree signed by the Speaker of the National Assembly was published on the official website of the Parliament.

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Predictable decision of the CC: what is the next step?

July 4, 2026

The decision of the Constitutional Court will be announced in the next few hours.

Let’s remind that an unprecedented number of seven political forces are demanding to recognize the results of the elections as invalid.

Of course, with a very high probability, the Constitutional Court named after Nikol Pashinyan will not recognize the results of the elections as invalid and will finally expose the administration’s forgeries.

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Details in the video




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