Iran Press/Iran news: Speaking on Wednesday afternoon in a meeting with visiting Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan in Tehran,the Leader of Iran's Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei said despite US wishes the relationship between the two countries should be friendly, firm and consistent.
"The US is completely untrustworthy and the country always seeks division and war," the Leader of Iran's Islamic Revolution noted according to Iran Press.
Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei called for a strengthening of relations between Iran and Armenia.
"Iran and Armenia are two neighbors which have friendly relations and their relations are rooted in history," Ayatollah Khamenei said.
The Leader of the Islamic Revolution pointed to the very friendly relations that exist between Iranians with their Armenian fellow citizens as well as the Iranian Armenian communities' sacrifices during the Sacred Defense era—the 8-year US-backed Saddam war on Iran—and asserted: "I have paid visits to the families of Iranian-Armenian martyrs in Tehran, because we consider the Armenian martyrs of the imposed war as sources of pride and honor for Iran, just like the Muslim martyrs."
The Leader regarded increased cooperation and friendly relations as a duty to be conducted in favor of common interests of Iran and Armenia, adding: "Of course, the U.S. is against the relations between Iran and Armenia and the country oppose the interests of the two nations. However, in response, we need to strengthen our relations and cooperation."
Highlighting the friendly relations of Iran and Armenia throughout history, Ayatollah Khamenei went on to say: "Iran and Armenia have never had any problems with each other. According to our Islamic teachings, we feel obliged to behave well towards our neighboring countries; even though U.S. officials, such as John Bolton, have no understanding of such matters or of human relations."
The Leader mentioned that the level of economic cooperation between Iran and Armenia is low, given the resources and the potentials that the two countries possess.
"The agreements and MOUs concluded during this trip should be vigorously pursued," Ayatollah Khamenei noted.
The Leader of the Islamic Revolution also noted that the resolution of the issue of Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh) lies in the continuation of negotiations between officials of the Republic of Azerbaijan and Armenia.
The Leader further announced the willingness of the Islamic Republic of Iran to offer assistance in resolving the matter.
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