On May 22, the Iranian ambassador to Armenia Mehdi Sobhani visited Armenia’s southern Syunik region, which borders Azerbaijan, and where Iran opened a consulate in 2022.
The visit coincides with escalating rhetoric from Baku and Ankara regarding the so-called “Zangezur corridor.”
Speaking to reporters, Sobhani reaffirmed Tehran’s position that regional connectivity must respect Armenia’s territorial integrity.
Sobhani said Tehran supports the unblocking of regional connections but emphasized that such efforts must occur under the sovereignty of the Republic of Armenia.
“We support peace,” Sobhani said, referring to the ongoing normalization process between Armenia and Azerbaijan. “We have supported and will continue to support the peace talks. We believe that the signing of a peace agreement is in the interests of both countries and the broader region, and we are ready to contribute to that outcome.”
In response to a question from an Armenian journalist about how Iran would react if Azerbaijan attempted to forcibly establish the so-called “Zangezur corridor,” Sobhani firmly rejected the use of force.
The question referenced both Turkish Transport and Infrastructure Minister Abdulkadir Uraloglu’s statement that the project is planned to be implemented within the next three to four years and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev’s declaration that the corridor “shall be opened.”
“No issue can be resolved by force. There will be no ‘Zangezur corridor,’” Sobhani stated.
The ambassador reaffirmed Iran’s endorsement of Armenia’s “Crossroads of Peace” initiative, which aims to restore regional connectivity while safeguarding national sovereignty.
“This project can serve as a platform for unblocking transport routes in the region. But it must happen under the sovereignty of the Republic of Armenia,” Sobhani said. “We think this will facilitate the flow of goods and boost regional cooperation.”
In a further sign of deepening ties, Sobhani described the recent visit of Iranian Defense Minister Brigadier-General Aziz Nasirzadeh to Armenia as a testament to the strategic nature of relations between the two neighbors.
“The visit was highly positive and productive,” he noted, highlighting Nasirzadeh’s meetings with Armenia’s Prime Minister, Defense Minister, Secretary of the Security Council, and Minister of High-Tech Industry.
“It shows that our relations are developing in all sectors, and we hope this trend continues.”
