On April 3, Iranian Ambassador to Armenia Mehdi Sobhani reiterated Iran’s commitment to regional peace, emphasized deepening cooperation with Armenia, and voiced support for Armenia’s potential accession to the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO).

In response to questions about arms transfers from Israel to Azerbaijan, Sobhani stated that Iran is utilizing its relations with Azerbaijan to help establish peace in the region and firmly opposes any militarization. He emphasized that Tehran is closely monitoring regional developments and maintains good neighborly ties with Baku.

Speaking at a seminar titled "Promoting the Shanghai Spirit: SCO in Action," Sobhani welcomed the idea of expanding the SCO, including the participation of friendly states such as Armenia. He highlighted that increased membership would enhance the organization’s reach and effectiveness in security, trade, and cultural cooperation. Stressing the importance of sovereignty and regional security, he stated that no country should feel threatened and called multilateral cooperation a necessity.

In a separate discussion with journalists, Sobhani expressed Iran’s readiness to support any peace format proposed by Armenia and Azerbaijan, including the "3+3" regional platform. He noted that developments in Armenia’s Syunik Province directly affect Iran’s interests and reiterated that Tehran considers changes to internationally recognized borders a red line. "The security and interests of Iran and Armenia have always been interconnected," he added.

During the international conference "Hayk-Iran: Millennial Neighborhood," Sobhani described the Armenia-Iran border as one of the safest and stressed the historical and geopolitical ties between the two nations. He highlighted ongoing economic cooperation, particularly the gas-for-electricity exchange project, and expressed interest in expanding Iran’s gas exports and electricity imports with Armenia.

Sobhani emphasized the strategic role Armenia can play in connecting Iran to the EAEU, the Black Sea, and the Global South, especially via the North-South Corridor. He stated that Iran views Armenia not just as a small national market but as a gateway to the EAEU’s 200-million-strong market.

Finally, the ambassador noted that public sentiment in Armenia toward Iran is notably positive, attributing it to Tehran’s respectful stance toward Armenia and the significant contribution of the Armenian community to Iran’s economy and culture.