Armenia and Iran are nearing an agreement to establish a national park spanning their border territories, with plans to create wildlife migration routes between the two countries.

The announcement was made by Iranian Vice President and Head of the Department of Environment Shina Ansari in an interview with Sputnik Armenia on the sidelines of the UN Biodiversity Conference COP17 in Yerevan.

Ansari said the agreement is expected to be signed in the near future.

The protected area will be called the “Park of Peace and Friendship,” she said. The initiative is also on the agenda of talks between Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian.

“Wildlife migration routes will be created within the park to allow animals to cross the border between the two countries. This will give the park both symbolic and practical significance,” Ansari explained.

She also highlighted the progress Armenia and Iran have made in environmental cooperation over the past decade.

Among their joint initiatives, Ansari cited regular monitoring of the Aras River, which runs along parts of the border, with a focus on its environmental condition and water quality.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian is leading his country's delegation at COP17 in Yerevan. The delegation also includes Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.