On May 5, RA Minister of Foreign Affairs Edward Nalbandyan paid an official visit to Tehran at the invitation of Iranian Minister of Foreign Affairs Mohammad Javad Zarif.

On the same day, Minister Nalbandyan was received by President of the Islamic Republic of Iran Hasan Rohani.

Greeting Armenia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, the President of Iran said both countries have made good achievements in their relations throughout the past two decades, have carried out several joint programs and both countries have the desire to expand their cooperation.

Edward Nalbandyan transmitted RA President Serzh Sargsyan’s message to President of Iran Hasan Rohani and the invitation to visit Yerevan. The President of the Islamic Republic of Iran asked Minister Nalbandyan to transmit his warm greetings and good wishes to the President of the Republic of Armenia.

The Iranian President and the Armenian Foreign Minister expressed satisfaction with the growing cooperation between the two countries and discussed the agreements reached at the high level and the implementation of joint economic programs.

In Tehran Minister Nalbandyan and Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif held talks that began as private talks and continued with the participation of the delegations.

Greeting Armenia’s Foreign Minister, Iran’s Minister of Foreign Affairs mentioned that he was pleased to receive his counterpart in Tehran and discuss the directions for further development of the friendly relations.

Expressing gratitude for the warm reception, Edward Nalbandyan underlined the fact that this was his ninth visit to Tehran in the past couple of years and that there have been nearly thirty meetings between the Ministers of Foreign Affairs in Yerevan, Tehran and abroad, which have created the opportunity to advance the effective political dialogue established between the two countries.

The Iranian and Armenian Foreign Ministers discussed the steps to promote trade and economic cooperation and implement different joint programs. The ministers also touched upon the construction of the third Armenia-Iran high voltage electric line, the hydro-electric station in Meghri and the Iran-Armenia Railway.

The ministers also discussed issues on the international agenda during the talks.

Minister Zarif talked about the latest developments of the negotiations over Iran’s nuclear program. In this regard, Minister Nalbandyan welcomed the agreements reached in Geneva in November and voiced hope that there would be a comprehensive solution to the issue through the combined efforts of all the parties in the prescribed time frame, which would be a major achievement for Iran, the region and the international community.

Minister Nalbandyan and Zarif also exchanged views on the Syrian crisis and the possible ways of solving it.

The interlocutors also addressed the developments unfolding in Ukraine.

Armenia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs presented his Iranian counterpart with Armenia’s and the international community’s efforts for the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and stressed the importance of Iran’s balanced position on the issue.

In the end, the ministers made announcements during a joint press conference.

Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif served an official dinner in honor of the RA Minister of Foreign Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Iran.

On the same day, Edward Nalbandyan had a meeting with President of Iran’s Mejlis Ali Larijani.

During the meeting, Minister Nalbandyan attached importance to the effective cooperation between the parliaments of the Republic of Armenia and the Islamic Republic of Iran for the strengthening of bilateral relations.

The interlocutors exchanged views on issues on the bilateral agenda and addressed several regional issues.

On the same day, Edward Nalbandyan also visited Ararat Sport-Cultural Complex where he had a meeting with the leaders of Iranian-Armenian organizations, reports the RA MFA press office to “Hayern Aysor”.