Iran's newly appointed ambassador to Armenia Mohammad Rayeesi hailed the close ties between Tehran and Yerevan, and called for the further expansion of mutual cooperation between the two nations.

According to Fars News Agency, Rayeesi made the remarks at a meeting with Armenia's ambassador to Iran Grigor Arakelyan and Iran's Armenian media representatives.

“Armenians are always respected in the Iranian community,” he said, adding that Iran-Armenia relations are “the closest among the countries in the region today.”

"Our political and cultural relations are on a high level, but the same cannot be said about the economic ties. And I hope for progress in this field," amb. Rayeesi stressed.