Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan and President of the Islamic Republic of Iran Masoud Pezeshkian participated in the opening of the Armenia-Iran Business Forum. The forum's main goals are to promote the deepening and diversification of trade and economic ties between Armenia and Iran, create and develop new opportunities for mutually beneficial cooperation and the implementation of joint projects, promote investment flows and the exchange of technological experience, ensure direct contacts between the participants, and establish partnership ties.
Prime Minister Pashinyan made a speech in which he noted:
“I warmly welcome all of you to Yerevan on the occasion of your participation in the Armenia-Iran Business Forum. I want to emphasize that economic relations and their development are essential in developing bilateral relations between the two friendly states.
In this context, I am pleased to note that the close political relations between the governments of our countries create the necessary environment to promote cooperation between Armenian and Iranian businesspeople. Today, with the statement signed by President Pezeshkian and me, we have reaffirmed our goal of increasing bilateral trade turnover to 1 billion and then 3 billion US dollars. Of course, if we could immediately increase it to 3, we would do so, but inevitably, we must increase it to 1 billion, then to 3. And the most critical role in achieving these targets is reserved for business community representatives.
Dear colleagues, Trade turnover between Armenia and Iran has steadily grown in recent years. Last year, it amounted to 748 million dollars, increasing by almost 6 percent, and in the first half of 2025, this figure reached 346 million, indicating steady progress.
We see a rising bar in the import sector year after year: in the first six months of this year alone, imports from Iran increased by more than 10 percent, reaching 300 million dollars. As for exports, despite a specific decrease, they continue to include such products as electricity, copper concentrate, and agricultural products. This is the foundation on which we must build not only trade, but also joint production, and create mutually beneficial added value.
Developing cross-border infrastructure in the energy, transport, and logistics sectors is essential in this context. This is entirely consistent with our Government’s “Crossroads of Peace” project, in the implementation of which I am pleased to note that Iranian companies are also involved; in particular, an Iranian company is implementing the construction of the 32-kilometer Agarak-Qajaran road section.
“Crossroads of Peace” aims to create additional interconnections between the North and the South, the East and the West. Given Armenia’s strategic location and diversification of foreign relations, Armenia can serve as a gateway for Iranians to the EAEU and the EU member states.
Dear guests, I would like to express my conviction that today’s conference will be fruitful in strengthening business ties and establishing new partnerships. I wish success to all participants of the business conference.”
Masoud Pezeshkian noted in his speech that one of the main goals of today’s discussions was to contribute to expanding trade turnover between the two countries and eliminating existing problems and obstacles that investors and those engaged in industrial activities will encounter. The President of the Islamic Republic of Iran emphasized that important agreements were reached in all the areas touched upon during the discussions to create a platform for cooperation for investors and representatives of the trade sector.
According to Masoud Pezeshkian, increasing bilateral trade turnover to $3 billion is quite achievable. In this context, he emphasized the efforts of the governments of the two countries to make this process smoother. “The rest depends on you, producers, investors, and representatives of the industrial sector. If you set bigger goals, you will accomplish bigger works,” the Iranian President said.
Masoud Pezeshkian once again thanked the Government of Armenia, Nikol Pashinyan, for discussing issues in an atmosphere of mutual understanding and emphasized that it will contribute to the expansion of cooperation between the two countries in various fields.
