Iran FM opposes Zangezur corridor, calls boundary changes a red line

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has issued a strong statement against the proposed Zangezur corridor, which aims to connect Nakhchivan to Azerbaijan.

Araghchi says that any changes to the borders of neighboring countries are unacceptable for Iran.

Iran’s warning over alleged regional border changes

Araghchi’s statement came in response to Russia and Türkiye’s ongoing efforts to facilitate peace between Azerbaijan and Armenia, which includes discussions on opening a land corridor. He warned that redrawing regional boundaries is “completely unacceptable” for Iran and is considered a “red line.”

In a social media post on platform X, Araghchi wrote: “Regional peace, security, and stability is not merely a preference, but a pillar of our national security. Any threat from North, South, East, or West to the territorial integrity of our neighbors or redrawing of boundaries is totally unacceptable and a red line for Iran.”

Regional peace, security and stability is not merely a preference, but a pillar of our national security.

Any threat from North, South, East, or West to territorial integrity of our neighbors or redrawing of boundaries is totally unacceptable and a red line for Iran.

— Seyed Abbas Araghchi (@araghchi) September 5, 2024

Iran’s concerns over Zangezur corridor

Iran has long opposed the Zangezur corridor project, fearing it could sever Armenia’s direct land access and shift the regional balance of power.

The project has been supported by Azerbaijan and Türkiye, with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan stating that the corridor would benefit all countries in the region, including Iran.

Erdogan, during his speech in July, said: “The Zangezur corridor is a strategic route that will benefit Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Iran. Once it is operational, both Azerbaijan and Iran will find relief.”

We hope that Azerbaijan and Armenia will achieve lasting peace which Türkiye wholeheartedly supports. The opening of the Zangezur corridor is the final step of this agreement. We want positive decisions along this path to be made without delay. There are now positive signals coming from the region, and we hope that they will eventually bring good news.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan

The Turkish president complained about Iran’s stance a year later. Turkish Transport and Infrastructure Minister, Abdulkadir Uraloglu, said in March this year that the corridor would benefit not only Türkiye and Azerbaijan but also the entire Turkic world.

‘Tehran does not support the Zangezur corridor’

Iran’s opposition to the project has been consistent, with Tehran stressing that it does not want any “geopolitical changes” in the Caucasus region.

Iranian officials have held discussions with Russian diplomats to reinforce this stance.

On September 2, a senior Iranian Foreign Ministry official reiterated Iran’s concerns during a meeting with Russian Ambassador Aleksey Dedov, stating that Tehran does not support the Zangezur corridor and opposes any geopolitical alterations in the region.

Armenia’s Peace corridor

Meanwhile, Armenia has proposed an alternative project known as the Peace corridor, which aims to enhance transportation and communication infrastructure between the Caspian Sea, the Mediterranean, and the Persian Gulf.

Armenian Deputy Foreign Minister Vahan Kostanyan has stated that Iran supports the Peace corridor initiative.

The opening of the Zangezur corridor, following Azerbaijan’s victory in the Second Karabakh War, holds significant geopolitical and economic importance for the region.

The corridor’s development could ease tensions by fostering economic ties and prosperity through enhanced trade and logistics. It will also strengthen Eurasian supply lines through the Trans-Caspian Transport Route and the International North-South Transport corridor. However, uncertainties regarding security and regional cooperation must be addressed to fully realize the corridor’s potential.