Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Bahrain’s Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani underscored the importance of the swift restoration of safe navigation in the Strait of Hormuz during talks held in Moscow on June 11.

According to Russia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as cited by RIA Novosti, the issue was among the topics discussed during the meeting.

“The heads of the foreign policy agencies emphasized the importance of the prompt restoration of stable, unhindered and secure navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, which is of vital importance to the global economy,” the ministry said in a statement.

The two sides also exchanged views on Russia’s updated concept for ensuring collective security in the Gulf region.

Israeli troops have established operational control and carried out a clearance operation in southern Lebanon.

The announcement was made by the press service of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).

“Israel Defense Forces soldiers have completed an operation to establish operational control and clear the area along the defensive line north of the Saluki River in southern Lebanon,” the military said in a statement.

The IDF press service stated that the operation was conducted as part of efforts to strengthen positions in southern Lebanon and eliminate what it described as a direct threat to communities in northern Israel.

According to the Israeli military, the area around the Saluki River had been used by Hezbollah to launch explosive-laden drones and carry out attacks against Israeli troops operating in the area.

“During the operation, ground forces, in coordination with the Israeli Air Force, destroyed hundreds of terrorist targets and killed more than 50 terrorists,” the statement said.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has congratulated Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on the Civil Contract party’s victory in the June 7 parliamentary elections, the Prime Minister’s Office reported. 

“On behalf of my people and in my personal capacity, I extend my heartfelt congratulations to you on the success achieved by the Civil Contract party led by you in the parliamentary elections held in the Republic of Armenia on June 7, 2026, and I wish you success in forming a government for the third time.

I am fully convinced that your strategic vision regarding the establishment of long-term peace and stability in the region, as well as ensuring the necessary cooperation in that direction, will be successfully brought to completion.

Taking this opportunity, I once again wish you health and well-being, and the people of Armenia prosperity and happiness.”

Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Faleh Al-Zaidi sent a congratulatory message to the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia, Nikol Pashinyan, on the occasion of his party’s victory in the recent parliamentary elections.

“Prime Minister Al-Zaidi reaffirmed Iraq’s commitment to building a broad partnership with Armenia in a manner that advances progress and prosperity for both sides, highlighting the importance of addressing shared challenges and enhancing coordination across economic and development fields,” the Iraqi Prime Minister’s Office said in a press release.

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has congratulated Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on his Civil Contract party’s victory in the June 7 parliamentary elections.

“Your re-election reflects the belief and trust of the people of the Republic of Armenia in your leadership and your vision of a peaceful and progressive nation,” Sharif said in a letter addressed to Pashinyan, according to his office.

“I look forward to working with Your Excellency to strengthen Pakistan–Armenia relations, and I wish to emphasize that Pakistan attaches great importance to peace and constructive cooperation between Azerbaijan and Armenia.

We hope that your new term in office will contribute to the advancement of peace, stability, and economic development in the South Caucasus.

I wish you continued health and well-being, as well as progress and prosperity for the friendly people of Armenia.”

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has said that major changes are not expected in the composition of his new Cabinet, which will be formed following the results of the June 7 parliamentary elections, in which his Civil Contract party won a majority of seats in parliament.

“There will be no major changes,” Pashinyan said at a press briefing when asked by a journalist whether the new government lineup had already been decided and whether dismissals or changes in the Cabinet were expected.

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on Thursday said that one of the priority issues requiring urgent solutions in Armenia’s aviation sector is the expansion of Yerevan’s Zvartnots Airport.

“Zvartnots Airport must be expanded as quickly as possible,” the Prime Minister told members of his Cabinet, citing the need to increase capacity to accommodate growing traffic.

He also highlighted the importance of implementing international standard reforms and continuously updating them.

Pashinyan also spoke about the work that needs to be carried out to redesignate Syunik Airport in Kapan as an international airport.

He further stressed the importance of implementing necessary measures for the future development of Shirak Airport in Gyumri.

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on Thursday accused the main opposition forces that won seats in the June 7 parliamentary elections of vote-buying and suggested that none of them, which he refers to collectively as the “tripartite war party,” would have entered parliament without bribery.

Pashinyan’s Civil Contract party received 49.825% of the vote, while Samvel Karapetyan’s Strong Armenia Alliance secured 23.281%, and former president Robert Kocharyan’s Armenia Alliance received 9.934%.

Business tycoon Gagik Tsarukyan’s Prosperous Armenia Party is very close to the 4% electoral threshold, having secured 3.996% of the vote according to preliminary results. A recount is currently underway ahead of the final results announcement on June 14.

Pashinyan has referred to the Strong Armenia Alliance, the Armenia Alliance, and the Prosperous Armenia Party as the “tripartite war party,” arguing that their victory in the June 7 polls would have triggered a new war.

Responding to a journalist’s question on whether there is any mechanism for assessing how cases of vote-buying by political forces may have affected the election results, Pashinyan said:

“Regarding the tripartite war party, none of them would have passed the parliamentary threshold without vote-buying,” Pashinyan said.

The Prime Minister stated that the criminal justice system, including judicial and law enforcement bodies, also bears responsibility for what has happened.

“The criminal justice system also bears responsibility for what has happened here, because those who engaged in vote-buying in previous elections are not only not in prison, but have also continued their activities in this process,” he noted.

“The criminal justice system must provide answers to the public, and the public must receive a clear explanation of why it funds the criminal justice system if criminals continue not only to walk freely on the streets but also to continue their criminal activities. I will obtain answers to these questions,” Pashinyan concluded.

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has said that Armenia would take note if other member states of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) decided to remove the country from the bloc.

Member states of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) earlier agreed to consider applying a relevant provision of the organization’s charter to Armenia over its non-payment of membership fees for two years.

Armenia has not paid membership fees to the CSTO since freezing its participation in the bloc in 2024.

“I cannot comment on CSTO matters. I know that there is a mechanism for expelling a member from the CSTO. If member states decide to remove Armenia, we will have to take note of that decision. We would have nothing else to do,” Pashinyan said during a briefing with journalists, when asked whether there is a procedure for expelling a member state from the CSTO and whether such an issue could arise in Armenia’s case.

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has said that as long as the Armenian government consistently pursues its peace agenda, there will be no war.

Pashinyan made the remarks during a press briefing when asked about his campaign statement that if the Civil Contract party does not secure a constitutional majority in parliament, a new war could break out in September.

“As long as we consistently continue the peace agenda and support it with all possible means, there will be no war; there will be peace,” the Prime Minister said.

According to preliminary results of the June 7 parliamentary elections, Pashinyan’s Civil Contract party won a majority of seats but not a constitutional majority.

Pashinyan’s Civil Contract party received 49.825% of the vote, while Samvel Karapetyan’s Strong Armenia Alliance secured 23.281%, and former president Robert Kocharyan’s Armenia Alliance received 9.934%.

Business tycoon Gagik Tsarukyan’s Prosperous Armenia Party is very close to the 4% electoral threshold, having secured 3.996% of the vote according to preliminary results. A recount is currently underway ahead of the final results announcement on June 14.

Pashinyan has referred to the Strong Armenia Alliance, the Armenia Alliance, and the Prosperous Armenia Party as the “tripartite war party,” arguing that their victory in the June 7 polls would have triggered a new war.