Iran has once again voiced strong opposition to any changes in internationally recognized borders and the geopolitical status quo in the South Caucasus, indirectly addressing the controversial so-called “Zangezur Corridor,” which Azerbaijan has demanded through Armenia’s Syunik province to connect with its Nakhichevan exclave. During a meeting with Russia’s Ambassador to Tehran, Alexey Dedov, Mojtaba Demirchilou, Director-General of the Foreign Ministry’s Eurasia Department, reiterated that “Tehran is against any change in the internationally recognized borders and geopolitical changes in the region,” emphasizing the need to respect the “legitimate concerns and interests of all countries in the region.”
In their meeting, the two diplomats exchanged views on the current developments in the Caucasus, stressing the importance of respecting national sovereignty, territorial integrity, and mutual interests, which they identified as key to sustainable peace and regional cooperation. They underscored the necessity of leveraging regional capacities to resolve ongoing disputes and promote stability, particularly in light of the upcoming 3+3 consultative format meeting, which will address security and economic issues in the South Caucasus.
Iran, sharing Armenia’s concerns, has consistently opposed any arrangement that would alter the region’s geopolitical landscape, including the idea of the extraterritorial “Zangezur Corridor.” This position was reaffirmed by Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei during a meeting with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan in July, where he stated that the corridor would be “detrimental to Armenia.”
The so-called “Zangezur Corridor” has been a flashpoint in regional tensions, particularly between Armenia and Azerbaijan. While Baku insists that people and goods moving between Nakhichevan and the rest of Azerbaijan should be exempt from Armenian border controls, Armenia rightly demands that all transit routes through its territory remain under its full control. This has led to a stalemate, with both sides unable to agree on the practical modalities of the corridor.
This reaffirmation of Iran’s position comes on the heels of renewed criticism from Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, who accused Armenia of “sabotaging” the implementation of a Russian-brokered agreement from the November 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh ceasefire. The agreement, specifically Paragraph 9, stipulates that Armenia must guarantee the security of transport links between Nakhichevan and the rest of Azerbaijan, with Russian border guards controlling the movement of people, vehicles, and goods through Armenia’s Syunik province.
Lavrov’s accusations have exacerbated the already heightened tensions between Moscow and Yerevan, deepening the rift between the two estranged allies. Moscow supports Baku’s demand for Russia to monitor and control the corridor, a demand that Armenia staunchly opposes, insisting that any such link must be under its control. This dispute has led to a fresh war of words between Armenia and Russia, with Lavrov reiterating his accusations as recently as Monday.
Despite these tensions, both Moscow and Tehran have emphasized the need for regional cooperation to maintain peace and stability in the South Caucasus. However, the Russian Foreign Ministry has acknowledged the concerns raised by Iranian officials regarding the opening of the so-called “Zangezur Corridor.” Maria Zakharova, the Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman, recently stated that there have been discussions on the issue, though she did not elaborate on whether there are significant differences between Moscow and Tehran on the matter.
Demirchilou and Dedov concluded their meeting by reiterating the importance of regional collaboration and the need to leverage the capabilities of regional countries to achieve sustainable peace and prosperity.
This was reported by IRNA, the Islamic Republic News Agency.
