The Defense Ministry has denied media reports that 160 Armenian soldiers are currently being held in Iran, after crossing the border to the Islamic Republic during the 44-day war in fall 2020.

According to information disseminated by some media outlets, the Islamic Republic has set preconditions for returning the servicemen to Armenia.

Iran's embassy in Yerevan earlier issued a statement to deny the allegations as "false and groundless".

The Defense Ministry said on Sunday, May 23 that the Armenian side held discussions with Iran months earlier but the reports weren't confirmed then either.