Armenia, Iran plan strategic pact in 2026

PanARMENIAN.Net - Armenia and Iran intend to sign a comprehensive strategic cooperation document during Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s planned visit to Tehran in 2026. Iran’s Ambassador to Armenia, Khalil Shirgholami, announced the plan at a reception marking the 47th anniversary of the Islamic Revolution.

He said the sides seek to institutionalize their cooperation and significantly broaden it based on a practical roadmap. According to the ambassador, relations between the two states span thousands of years and have now reached a stage where mutual trust between their leaders stands as the most important achievement, Auroranews.am reported.

He also stressed the importance of unblocking regional communications and expanding transit opportunities, underscoring that peace and good-neighborly relations in the South Caucasus have been key guarantees of stability.

Armenian Deputy Prime Minister Mher Grigoryan said in his remarks that the fraternal ties formed between Armenia and Iran rest on sincerity, respect and trust, according to Armenpress.

“As a result of the existing political dialogue and mutually beneficial cooperation, relations between our countries are developing day by day for the welfare of the peoples of our two friendly states. We highly appreciate the statements voiced by Iran’s supreme leadership in support of Armenia’s territorial integrity and the inviolability of its borders, especially at a time when, due to regional developments, Armenia truly needed such support,” he said.

Grigoryan added that one of the significant events of last year was the Iranian president’s visit to Armenia, during which the leaders of the two states, in a joint statement, affirmed their determination to elevate bilateral relations to the level of strategic partnership.

“The intergovernmental joint commission operating between our countries serves as an important platform for discussing issues on the Armenia-Iran bilateral agenda and identifying new opportunities for expanding cooperation. As the Armenian co-chair of the commission, I would note that we would be pleased to hold its next meeting this year in Yerevan and host our Iranian partners,” the deputy prime minister said.

Grigoryan noted that through the joint activities of the intergovernmental commission, the Armenian side has consistently kept in focus all areas of mutual interest for Iran and Armenia. He said the bilateral agenda covers a broad range of issues, from economic cooperation to transport, healthcare, education, culture, environment and tourism.

“We reaffirm that Armenia-Iran relations will continue to develop in a spirit of friendship, for the establishment of peace and strengthening of stability in the region,” he concluded.

Shirgolemi stated that over nearly five decades Iran has achieved significant progress in the fields of economy, infrastructure, science, technology, culture and arts, as well as defense.

“Hostility, sanctions and the instigation of wars have not prevented the Iranian people from continuing along their path of progress. Our country recently went through difficult days when the people’s legitimate protests and demands were diverted by organized elements and turned into violence to create a pretext for external interference and plunge the country into chaos. However, the great Iranian nation, heir to a powerful civilization that has shaped history, demonstrated that it will never allow certain forces to endanger its security and identity,” he said.

Shirgolemi recalled that this year marks the 35th anniversary of Armenia’s independence and added that Iran was among the first countries to recognize it.

“Of course, friendship and ties between the peoples of Iran and Armenia have a history of millennia, and what we witness today is a manifestation of the continuity of that historical, cultural and civilizational bond. The 150,000-strong Armenian community in Iran and dozens of significant Armenian holy sites located there testify to this inseparable connection,” Shirgolemi said.

He assured that the history of bilateral relations between Iran and Armenia recorded an effective and achievement-rich year.

“In 2025, the historic, fraternal and strategic relations between the two countries were filled with positive events. Important mutual visits by officials took place, culminating in Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian’s visit to Yerevan in August 2025. In addition, numerous high-level reciprocal visits were carried out in the economic, political, security and defense spheres.

Over the past year, key achievements were recorded, including the signing of 12 memorandums of cooperation during the Iranian president’s visit to Yerevan, the holding of meetings and political consultations, the high-level development of defense relations, mutual support in international organizations and platforms, the drafting of a new memorandum of understanding on cooperation in the security sphere, the holding of the 13th session of the joint consular commission, an Iranian company’s victory in the tender for the Kajaran large tunnel project, the participation of a 70-member Armenian business delegation in the Iran Expo 2025 exhibition, as well as the preparation of a comprehensive document on strategic cooperation between Iran and Armenia, which we hope will be signed during Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s visit to Tehran in 2026,” the ambassador said.

According to the diplomat, trade turnover between the two countries, excluding the defense sector, reached $698 million in January-November 2025, while the vision set by the two countries’ leaders to reach $3 billion still lies ahead.

The ambassador said Iran welcomed the peace process in the South Caucasus and believes that peace and friendship among the peoples of the region are prerequisites for comprehensive development and deeper ties.

“There is enormous economic potential in the South Caucasus region, which cooperation and synergy based on mutual trust can harness for the region’s development and prosperity,” Shirgolemi said.