TEHRAN - Iran supports Armenia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and welcomes Yerevan’s efforts aimed at establishing friendly relations with its neighbors, Iranian Ambassador to Armenia Mehdi Sobhani has said, Armenpress reports.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran emphasizes its principled stance in supporting Armenia’s sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity, welcomes its efforts aimed at establishing friendly relations with neighbors and is ready to help the Armenian government in this direction,” Sobhani said at the opening of the Armenia-Iran: Cooperation and New Prospects expert conference in Kapan.

Ambassador Sobhani said that Iran welcomes Armenia’s Crossroads of Peace initiative, noting that any unblocking should take place under the territorial integrity, sovereignty and control of the given country.

“We welcome the Armenia-Azerbaijan peace talks and we believe that tension and conflict between countries can have undesirable consequences for the peoples in the region,” Sobhani said.

He also described the Armenian-Iranian border as a “border of friendship.”

“We are determined to utilize all opportunities of the two countries to promote trade and increase the political, economic and cultural ties in the Iran-Armenia relationship, which has a bright future, and no one can disrupt it,” the Ambassador said.