Iran and Armenia have lifted their mutual visa regime enabling their citizens to freely commute between the two countries.
Iran’s Ambassador to Armenia Kazem Sajjadi was quoted by the media as saying that the removal of the visa regime between the two countries followed a relevant agreement that they had signed to the same effect recently.
Sajjadi was quoted by the Armen Press news agency as saying that the removal had come into effect on 6 August 2016.
Armen Press also said the Iranian envoy had discussed the issue in a meeting with Armenia’s Prime Minister Hovik Abrahamyan.
Sajjadi further emphasized that the removal of the visa regime with Armenia is expected to contribute to the development of tourism between the two countries.
Armenia announced in early June that it has approved signing an agreement with Iran to abolish the visa regime between the two countries.
The country’s Deputy Foreign Minister Shavarsh Kocharyan was quoted by media as saying that the agreement will help develop relations between Iran and Armenia.
The agreement was signed between the two countries on June 5 during a visit to Tehran by Armenia’s Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian.
The agreement will allow Iranians and Armenians to travel to the two countries with citizens and diplomatic passports without a visa and stay there for maximum 90 days within a 180-day period, the media reported at the time.
Iran’s officials have already said the country seeks reciprocal visa waiver programs with 28 countries as part of its bid to boost tourism.
Citizens of Turkey, Lebanon, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Bolivia, Egypt and Syria can travel to Iran and stay in the country without visa from 15 to 90 days.
Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani – currently on a visit to Baku – told reporters on Sunday that Iran and Azerbaijan are working on a scheme to remove the visa regime between the two countries.