Iran, Armenia Explore Deeper Sports Ties: Donyamali Highlights Chess Education and Regional Cooperation

Tehran - BORNA - Welcoming Andreasyan and her delegation, Donyamali underlined the historical and cultural ties between the two nations and praised the “upward trajectory” of bilateral relations in recent years. He noted that Iran and Armenia maintain active cooperation across multiple fields, including economy, transport, energy, science, culture, security and regional affairs.

Referring to last month’s visit of Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian to Yerevan, Donyamali said Tehran is committed to expanding relations with Armenia on a strategic level. “Iran has consistently and clearly supported Armenia’s territorial integrity, and peace in the Caucasus remains a strategic priority for us,” he stated, recalling the 12 agreements signed during the presidential visit.

Turning to sports exchanges, Donyamali highlighted areas of mutual interest such as wrestling, weightlifting, judo, gymnastics and boxing. He also pointed to Armenia’s integration of chess into school curricula, saying Iran could benefit from this experience. “Iranian wrestling enjoys one of the most modern training camps and arenas in the world. We hope Armenia’s national teams can benefit from this capacity,” he added.

The minister also emphasized the importance of traditional and indigenous sports, particularly “Zurkhaneh and Pahlevani” practices, and expressed readiness to expand cooperation with Armenia in these areas.

Donyamali further stressed that provincial authorities in Iran’s border regions have been authorized to develop direct partnerships with neighboring countries, including Armenia, in sports and youth programs. He noted that both sides could also collaborate on youth empowerment, vocational training, NGOs, and joint festivals as part of friendship weeks.

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