Pezeshkian made the remarks on Monday during a meeting with Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan, who was visiting Tehran at the head of a diplomatic delegation.
The Iranian president said Iran and Armenia should build on their longstanding friendly relations by expanding bilateral cooperation in various fields. He also referred to his recent meeting with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan in New York on the sidelines of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly, describing it as constructive.
Pezeshkian also addressed regional developments and Iran’s disputes with the United States, saying Washington had repeatedly launched attacks against Iran following negotiations. He argued that the US is seeking to undermine the Islamic Republic rather than pursue genuine dialogue.
He said Iran has repeatedly demonstrated the peaceful nature of its nuclear activities and had accepted extensive monitoring by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Iran, he added, remains prepared for negotiations and verification, but questioned the safety of allowing international inspectors access to its nuclear facilities when Iranian nuclear sites and scientists were subsequently targeted.
The Iranian president also condemned the US attack on an elementary school in Minab, which killed 168 children, saying Washington had failed to provide an explanation for the incident while continuing to raise human-rights issues. He said negotiations are difficult with an adversary that repeatedly resorts to sanctions, threats, pressure and attacks while failing to honor agreements.
Pezeshkian stressed that Iran would continue strengthening relations with neighboring countries and work to withstand external pressure, saying the US attack had instead resulted in greater cohesion among the Iranian people.
Mirzoyan, for his part, conveyed warm greetings from Prime Minister Pashinyan and said Armenia-Iran friendship and relations were growing stronger by the day. He said bilateral cooperation is continuing at the international level despite sanctions and stressed Yerevan’s commitment to expanding engagement with Tehran.
The Armenian foreign minister also described Armenia as a peace-oriented country seeking to establish peace despite the challenges involved. He said Yerevan would work within the agreed framework to further develop cooperation with Iran.