Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi separately met with visiting Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan in Tehran on Monday, 6 October 2026, with both Iranian officials reaffirming the country's resolve to protect its national interests and security in the face of what they described as sustained American pressure and military aggression.

Pezeshkian's Sharp Rebuke of the United States

In his meeting with Mirzoyan, President Pezeshkian delivered a pointed critique of Washington, arguing that meaningful dialogue with the US is impossible given its conduct. 'Negotiation is meaningless with an enemy that resorts to acts of assassination, sanctions, pressure, and threats on a daily basis, and breaks its promises,' Pezeshkian said, according to a statement published on his official office website.

Pezeshkian alleged that the United States had attacked Iran on three separate occasions following rounds of talks, suggesting Washington's goal is regime change rather than diplomacy. 'So far, they (the United States) have attacked us three times following talks, which demonstrates that they are not seeking dialogue, but rather aiming to overthrow the Islamic Republic of Iran's establishment,' he said.

The president also referenced the killing of 168 children at a school in Minab, a city in Iran's south, on 28 February, for which he said Washington has offered no accounting. 'None of their actions and behaviors towards Iran complies with international law,' Pezeshkian added.

Araghchi: Diplomacy Yes, But Deterrence First

Foreign Minister Araghchi struck a dual note — asserting that Iran will 'decisively' defend its national interests and security while also clarifying that Tehran has never shied away from using diplomacy to prevent escalation, according to a statement from the Iranian Foreign Ministry.

Araghchi linked regional maritime insecurity directly to US-Israeli military actions, saying the 'precarious' consequences of what he called US-Israeli military 'aggression' against Iran are the primary driver of instability in commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz — a critical global chokepoint through which roughly 20% of the world's oil transits.

Armenia's Strategic Posture Toward Iran

Armenian Foreign Minister Mirzoyan, for his part, underscored the 'strategic nature' of Yerevan-Tehran relations and Armenia's commitment to deepening cooperation with Iran, according to the Iranian Foreign Ministry statement. In a separate meeting with Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, Mirzoyan explicitly assured that Armenia would not permit its territory to be used for any action against Iran, according to Iran's official news agency.

Context: The 28 February Attacks and Their Aftermath

The diplomatic meetings come against the backdrop of a sharp military escalation that began on 28 February, when Israel and the United States reportedly launched joint strikes on Tehran and other Iranian cities. Iran responded with waves of missile and drone attacks targeting Israel and US assets and bases across the region, and tightened its control over the Strait of Hormuz — a move with direct consequences for global energy markets and commercial shipping.

The Armenia-Iran diplomatic exchange signals Tehran's active effort to shore up regional partnerships and signal that it is not diplomatically isolated, even as tensions with Washington and Tel Aviv remain at a historically high pitch. How the standoff evolves will have direct implications not only for the region but for global energy prices and maritime trade routes.