TEHRAN, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) -- Iranian Defense Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh and his Armenian counterpart Suren Papikyan met in the Iranian capital Tehran on Tuesday to discuss bilateral defense cooperation and regional issues, Iran's official news agency IRNA reported.
Nasirzadeh described relations between the two countries as "historical, strategic, deep and strong," adding that defense cooperation serves to strengthen bilateral relations and ensure regional stability and security.
He stressed that Iran does not seek war, "but if a war is imposed on the country, it will defend itself strongly and give an unforgettable lesson to enemies."
Nasirzadeh also voiced opposition to any disruption in the region's geopolitics, underlining that security should be guaranteed through interaction and cooperation among regional countries.
He stated that Iran is sensitive to outside powers' intervention in regional affairs, warning that certain interventions by these powers are "malicious" and could challenge regional stability.
He also emphasized the need to preserve the territorial integrity of all countries in the region.
For his part, Papikyan hailed the historical ties between the neighboring nations and underscored the necessity to expand cooperation across various sectors, especially defense.
He commended Iran's role in supporting regional security and stability, especially along their shared border, emphasizing that Armenia will never be the origin and source of any threat against its neighbor, and maintaining that Iran's stability ensures that of the entire region. ■
