The 1998 World Championships were held in Lahti, Finland on 10–15 November. Ara Vardanyan took silver in the men's +105 kg class with a 427.5 kg total (snatch gold 197.5 kg, C&J bronze 230 kg), behind only Russia's Andrey Chemerkin.
Khachatur Kyapanaktsyan finished 8th in the 77 kg class with 355 kg. Hakob Pilosyan finished 8th in the 94 kg class with 375 kg. Arsen Melikyan was 12th in the 77 kg class (347.5 kg). Ashot Danielyan did not finish in the +105 kg class.