TEHRAN – Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Wednesday called Iran and Armenia as good neighbors who have been enjoying good relationship during the history and said in contrast to opposition by the United States both Iran and Armenia should make their relations “strong, durable and amicable”.

Ayatollah Khamenei made the remarks in a meeting with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan who visited Tehran at the head of senior delegation on Wednesday.

Ayatollah Khamenei also pointed to the good relationship between Iranians and their Armenian countrymen, saying the Armenian community in Iran made sacrifices during Iraq’s war against Iran in the 1980s.

“I have visited the houses of these martyrs because the Armenian martyrs of the imposed war are like Muslims martyrs and we consider them as honors of Iran,” the Leader noted.

The Leader said promoting friendship and close cooperation is a duty which will meet the interests of Iran and Armenia.

However, Ayatollah Khamenei said Americans are quite untrustworthy and seek war and conflict everywhere in the world, adding are against the relationship between Iran and Armenia “but in response we are tasked to reinforce our cooperation and relations.”

Ayatollah Khamenei says the resolution of the Karabakh conflict is dependent on a constant dialogue between Armenian and Azeri officials.Referring to the amicable ties between Iran and Armenia in the course of history, the Leader said, “Iran and Armenia have never had problems with each other and according to Islamic principles were are duty bound to have good behavior with neighbors.”

“However,” Ayatollah Khamenei added, “American officials like John Bolton have no understanding of such a human relationship”.

Ayatollah Khamenei also said the current level of economic ties between Iran and Armenia is less than the existing capacities of the two countries and suggested that the agreements made during his visit to be seriously followed and implemented.

Elsewhere in his remarks, the Leader said the resolution of the Karabakh conflict is dependent on a constant dialogue between Armenian and Azeri officials.

Ayatollah Khamenei reiterated Iran’s long-held position that the Islamic Republic is ready to help resolve the conflict between Armenia and the Republic of Azerbaijan.

For his part, Prime Minister Pashinyan described his visit to Tehran as constructive and promising and expressed hope that the agreements signed during his visit would be implemented with the determination of the two sides.

Pashinyan said the history of friendly ties has provided a good condition for improving ties.

He also said, “Armenia has never been and will never be involved in any anti-Iran moves and we consider promotion of relations with Iran to the interests of our people and country.”

The prime minister also expressed happiness over the favorable life of the Armenian community in Iran and said he believed that in the light of the great experience of the Leader and the role of the Islamic Republic in the region cooperation between Armenia and Iran would expand more than ever.