TEHRAN- The head of Iran’s Islamic Culture and Relations Organization (ICRO) and the supreme head of the Armenian Apostolic Church, Catholicos of All Armenians, met to discuss expanding interfaith collaboration between the two countries.

The meeting was held during Mohammad-Mehdi Imanipour's visit to the Etchmiadzin Cathedral in Armenia on Saturday, IRNA reported.

Imanipour emphasized the need for religions to interact and collaborate with each other, stating, "We have moved beyond merely acquainting ourselves with religions and are now focusing on interaction and cooperation."

He explained plans to sign a cultural cooperation agreement in order to strengthen relations between Iran and Armenia.

ICRO has been engaging in religious dialogues with various faiths for the past 35 years, with interfaith dialogue being a key focus for the organization, he noted.

Imanipour continued by highlighting Iran's progression from introductory dialogues about religions to actively discussing ways to interact and cooperate.

Expressing regret over the genocide in Gaza, he remarked, "The conflict there revealed the inadequacy of international institutions, underscoring the need for new mechanisms to establish global peace."

He underscored the significant role of religions in safeguarding world peace, affirming Iran's commitment to promoting lasting peace in the region through dialogue.

He stressed the potential for achieving enduring peace in the region through collaborative and constructive discussions.

Noting the strong ties between Iran and Armenia, he observed, "During my short visit to Armenia, I saw firsthand the enthusiasm for learning Persian among young people at schools and universities."

He highlighted the positive impact of Persian language learners in Armenia and Armenian learners in Iran on fostering future friendly relations.

Imanipour concluded by asserting that when fear is propagated by the West, it often leads to positive developments, particularly in relation to the influential role of religions.

Karekin II, the head of the Armenian Apostolic Church, expressed gratitude for Iran's support to Armenia and stressed the benefits of cooperation between the two nations in various fields.

He acknowledged the joint efforts of Iranian ambassadors and cultural representatives in implementing programs promoting interfaith dialogue in Armenia.

Discussing educational initiatives, he stated, "Our programs aim to facilitate interactions between church authorities and Islam."

Commenting on Iran's assistance to Armenians residing in Iran, he affirmed the enduring bond between the two nations.

SAB/