Pezeshkian: Peace in Caucasus a "Strategic Priority" for Iran

Peace in the Caucasus is a strategic priority for Iran. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian stated this after his meeting with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan.

"We support the peace negotiations between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Iran's position has been the immutability of the borders in the Caucasus, as we believe that these changes could become a cause for geopolitical rivalry," the Iranian president said. He added that Iran wishes peace and tranquility to its neighbors, and especially to Armenia, stressing that integration and friendship are the best factors for moving forward on the path of security and development.

"We have always defended the territorial integrity of Armenia, that is our policy, and we are against the use of any force in the region," said Pezeshkian, repeating Tehran's position that problems in the South Caucasus should be resolved by the countries of the region, and the involvement of extra-regional forces could further complicate the situation. Nevertheless, Pezeshkian emphasized that Iran is not against Armenia's participation in various integration programs.