Zangezur Corridor a 'red line', prompts 'firm response': Iran Official

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
7 Sep 2024 18:37
1 Shares

A senior Iranian lawmaker warns that any changes or actions regarding the establishment of the Zangezur Corridor will be met with "a serious and firm response."

Listen

A map showing the Zangezur Corridor concept connecting Azerbaijan with its Nakhchivan enclave via Armenia (IRNA map illustration)

Establishing the Zangezur Corridor in the South Caucasus is a "red line" for Iran, the Chairman of the National Security and Foreign Policy Commission of the Iranian Parliament said on Saturday.

Azerbaijan has been insisting on establishing a corridor through southern Armenia to link the country with its Nakhchivan enclave bordering Turkey, effectively occupying Armenian territory that connects it with Iran.

"It is clear that issues related to the geopolitical developments surrounding the Zangezur Corridor are not in the interest of regional countries, and Iran vehemently opposes this matter," Ebrahim Azizi said.

He said that the true motives behind the “fake corridor” are aimed at diminishing Iran's military and political power in the region.

During discussions with Russian and Turkish presidents, the senior lawmaker also pointed out that Iranian leader Sayyed Ali Khamenei has explicitly sounded strong opposition to geopolitical changes in the Caucasus.

"We have repeatedly communicated through various channels to regional countries that this corridor is a red line for Iran, and any changes or actions regarding it will be met with a serious and firm response from Iran."

Iran's national security

Despite the corridor separating a strategic land trade route between Russia and the Islamic Republic via Armenia, Moscow recently expressed support for Baku's demands. Additionally, it would have a direct impact on Iran's land access to Europe.

This occurred against the backdrop of escalating tensions between Yerevan and Moscow, as Armenia has made a decisive pivot toward the United States and the West over the past year following its military defeat to Azerbaijan - which it blames Russia for, also accusing Moscow of failing to its peace mission and abandoning its longtime ally.

Iran expressed its opposition to Moscow's support of Baku's demands.

The director general of the Iranian foreign ministry’s Eurasia Department on Monday summoned Russia’s ambassador to express Iran’s opposition to "any geopolitical changes in the Caucasus".

Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Monday that this is a matter of national security for Iran.

In a post on X, Araghchi said: “Regional peace, security, and stability is not merely a preference, but a pillar of [Iran's] 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,” he added.

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