YEREVAN. – President Serzh Sargsyan on Thursday received a delegation led by Eshaq Jahangiri, the First Vice President of Iran, who has arrived in Armenia on an official visit.

The President welcomed the guests and stressed that Armenia always uses every chance to talk about its warm ages-old relationship with the friendly country of Iran, which is of vital importance to Armenia and is conditioned on historical and cultural similarities, mutual economic interests, peculiarities of the geopolitical position, and by common approaches to a number of regional issues, the Press Office of the President informed Armenian News-NEWS.am.

Serzh Sargsyan noted that Armenia is keen on further promoting high-level political dialogue and cooperation with Iran in all possible domains. The president expressed confidence that the time has come to broaden the bilateral agenda and elevate the level of Armenian-Iranian relations by another degree. In this context, Armenia’s president attached great importance to the discussions and agreements made during Jahangiri’s visit to Armenia which, according to the president, could start a new phase of bilateral relations.

The Iranian First Vice President Eshaq Jahangiri, for his part, thanked the President for the invitation to Armenia and the warm welcome, and conveyed Iranian President Hassan Rouhani’s sincere greetings to the Armenian President. Iran’s first vice president expressed satisfaction with the results of his talks at the Armenian government, and noted that the agenda of his visit is quite full. Eshaq Jahangiri stressed that Armenia, as a friendly and neighboring country, has a special place in Iran’s foreign relations. He also attached importance especially on the intensification of trade and economic ties.

The President Sargsyan and Eshaq Jahangiri discussed the status of ongoing large energy and transport programs, which are of crucial importance to Armenian-Iranian collaboration, and the prospects for implementation of new initiatives in several other mutually beneficial domains, taking into account the broadening economic cooperation opportunities afforded by Armenia’s membership in the Eurasian Economic Union.

At the talk, the parties also reflected on regional issues and challenges and the Nagorno-Karabakh peace process, and placed importance on the peaceful resolution of the conflict and in accordance with the standards of international law.

In addition, the interlocutors exchanged views on the developments in the Middle East, including Syria. They underscored the need to the settle the Syrian crisis through peace talks.

President Serzh Sargsyan stressed the need to consolidate efforts in the fight against extremism, one of the most severe evils facing humanity, and noted that Armenia is ready to make its modest contribution to this matter, and in an effort to promote regional stability and security.