During their meeting in Yerevan on Monday, Mehdi Sobhani told Pashinyan that the Islamic Republic of Iran attaches importance to protecting the security and rights of the Armenians living in the Karabakh region, said a press release by the Iranian Embassy in the Armenian capital.

According to the embassy, the Iranian ambassador also announced his country’s interest to develop relations with Armenia in all fields.

Pashinyan referred to “an existing reliable dialog” with President Ebrahim Raisi, which the Armenian premier said helps constantly deepen cooperation between the two countries.

The Armenian PM also said that Tehran and Yerevan should maintain their “active relations” during the “difficult time” of the region.   

Pashinyan and Sobhani meanwhile exchanged views on top bilateral issues such as economy, trade and health, among others.

Sobhani was appointed Iran’s new ambassador to Yerevan in March this year, beginning his diplomatic mission there nearly four months later.

The Armenian prime minister expressed hope that the two countries’ relations are further strengthened during the tenure of Sobhani.

Their meeting took place as tensions remain high between Armenia and the Azerbaijan Republic over Nagorno-Karabakh, a region disputed by the two neighbors for decades now.