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“40% of Iranian Armenians are the descendants of the victims of Armenian Genocide,” stated IRI Majlis deputy Karen Khanlaryan in an interview with Iranian Information Agency “IMNA.”

The Armenian deputy referring to Iran’s religious minorities, including the rights of Iranian Armenians noted, “Fortunately, the rights of religious minorities have been protected by all presidents, the reason is that the rights are enshrined in the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran.”

Karen Khanlaryan while speaking about the problems of Iranian Armenians stated that the most important concern of Armenian community in Iran is the problem of Armenian Genocide. According to him 40% of Iranian Armenians are the descendants of the victims of Armenian Genocide.

Referring to the Iranian government’s position on the Armenian Genocide, Majlis deputy particularly noted, “During the first years of Islamic revolution Imam Khomeini condemned the Genocide, former president Khatami during his visit to Armenia visited the Genocide Memorial, and Mahmud Ahmedinejad as well condemned the Genocide twice during his stay in office. We hope that on the 100th anniversary of the Genocide the number of Iranian officials who show sympathy to this issue would increase.”

The deputy stated, “98-99% of Iranian Armenians are followers of Armenian Apostolic Church, while 1% or 2 % belong to Catholic or Protestant Church. Currently, 13-14 million Armenians live worldwide, including the population of Armenia. Armenian Apostolic Church of Iran has about 100 thousand followers.”

Note that Armenian Apostolic Church in Iran is represented by three dioceses; Atrpatakan, Tehran and Esfahani dioceses. Two deputies defend Armenian interests in Majlis, Karen Khanlaryan and Robert Beglaryan.