Iran determined to finalize Comprehensive Strategic Partnership document with Armenia

Pars Today – Iran is determined to finalize a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership document with Armenia.

According to Pars Today, Masoud Pezeshkian, President of Iran, said on Tuesday, February 24, during a meeting with Suren Papikyan, Armenia’s Minister of Defense, and his accompanying delegation, that the Islamic Republic of Iran is ready to finalize the “Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Document” with Armenia.

Pezeshkian emphasized that the more relations are enhanced in political, economic, transportation, energy, and infrastructure sectors, the more the interests of the two nations will be secured.

He also underscored the Islamic Republic of Iran’s determination to expand and deepen comprehensive relations with neighboring countries, particularly Armenia.

Masoud Pezeshkian further expressed satisfaction with the peace agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan, describing the process as a positive step toward strengthening security and promoting regional cooperation.

Emphasizing that developing ties with neighboring states is a fundamental priority of Iran’s foreign policy, Pezeshkian stated that the approach of enhancing comprehensive relations with Armenia is supported at the highest levels of the establishment, and that Tehran is firmly committed to advancing bilateral cooperation across all areas of mutual interest.

Referring to the positive trend in economic, infrastructure, and transit corridor cooperation between the two countries, Masoud Pezeshkian described these collaborations as a sign of the shared will to make the most of mutual capacities. He also expressed appreciation for the Armenian government’s support of Iranian companies operating in the country.

For his part, Suren Papikyan, Armenia’s Minister of Defense, highlighted the achievements of defense cooperation between the two countries in recent years, describing the interactions as fruitful. He added that bilateral cooperation in economic and transportation sectors is also continuing along a positive trajectory, further strengthening ties — cooperation that holds political and security significance for Armenia as well.

Suren Papikyan described the Iranian president’s visit to Yerevan and the agreement to elevate bilateral relations to a strategic level as highly significant, referring to the Islamic Republic of Iran as an important and influential neighbor. He also expressed hope that future issues and developments involving Masoud Pezeshkian and the Islamic Republic of Iran would be pursued and resolved through diplomatic and dialogue-based approaches.

It appears that Iran, within the framework of an active and dynamic diplomacy, is determined to finalize the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership document with Armenia. This resolve, announced by Pezeshkian, reflects Tehran’s strategic outlook toward relations with Yerevan and the South Caucasus region. The rationale behind this decision can be analyzed through several key dimensions.

The first factor is the effort to balance regional geopolitics amid shifting power equations. The South Caucasus has become a theater of competition among regional and extra-regional powers following recent developments. The normalization process between Armenia and Azerbaijan and projects such as the Zangezur Corridor — aimed at connecting Nakhchivan to mainland Azerbaijan — could alter the region’s transit and geopolitical balance in favor of certain actors.

Through the finalization of this strategic document, Iran seeks to preserve equilibrium and prevent the formation of any regional order that may overlook its national interests.

The second factor relates to economic and corridor-related interests. Trade relations between Iran and Armenia have shown steady growth over time, and Tehran aims to raise bilateral trade volume to around one billion dollars.

Major joint projects — including the Iran–Armenia gas pipeline, cross-border electricity transmission lines, and the construction of joint power plants along the Aras River — represent successful examples of bilateral cooperation. Finalizing the strategic partnership document will provide the necessary legal and political framework to expand collaboration, particularly in transit and infrastructure development linked to the North–South Transport Corridor, thereby consolidating Iran’s position within the regional transportation network.

Ultimately, the relationship between the two countries is rooted in a long historical background and shared cultural ties. Friendly relations between Iran and Armenia are based on mutual trust, shared values, and respect. The elevation of ties to the strategic level has been emphasized by the leadership of both countries. Through this move, Iran seeks to strengthen its traditional partnership with Armenia while preserving stability, security, and its national interests in the rapidly changing geopolitical environment of the South Caucasus.