TEHRAN — In a bold and defiant statement, Iran has vowed to block a US-brokered peace deal that includes the creation of a strategic corridor near its border, linking Azerbaijan to its Nakhchivan exclave. Dubbed the “Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity”, this corridor—also known as the Zangezur Corridor—has ignited a firestorm of geopolitical tensions in the South Caucasus, with Iran warning that it threatens regional stability and its national interests. The deal, signed at the White House on August 8, 2025, between Azerbaijan and Armenia, marks a historic attempt to end decades of conflict between the two nations. However, Iran’s fierce opposition signals that the path to peace may be fraught with challenges.
A Historic Peace Deal with a Controversial Corridor
The agreement, facilitated by US President Donald Trump, aims to resolve longstanding disputes between Christian-majority Armenia and Muslim-majority Azerbaijan, which have clashed repeatedly over their shared border and ethnic enclaves, most notably the Nagorno-Karabakh region. The corridor, a 43-kilometer strip through Armenia’s Syunik Province, would connect mainland Azerbaijan to its exclave of Nakhchivan, bypassing Iranian and Russian territory. The United States has secured exclusive development rights, with plans to lease the land to a private American company for construction and logistics, a move that has raised alarm bells in Tehran.
Ali Akbar Velayati, a senior adviser to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, did not mince words in his condemnation of the project. Speaking to the Tasnim News Agency, Velayati called the corridor “an impossible notion” that “will not happen,” warning that it would become “a graveyard for Trump’s mercenaries.” He argued that the corridor endangers the security of the South Caucasus, a region already scarred by decades of conflict and mistrust. “We have the right to defend our interests in a completely powerful manner,” Velayati added, noting that Iran has conducted multiple military exercises near the border to demonstrate its readiness.
Iran’s Strategic Concerns: A Geopolitical Trap?
Iran’s opposition stems from deep-seated fears that the Zangezur Corridor could sever its land access to Armenia and the broader Caucasus, effectively isolating it from a vital region. The corridor runs along the entire length of Iran’s border with Armenia, raising concerns that it could block Tehran’s trade routes and diminish its influence in the South Caucasus. Moreover, the involvement of the United States, which Iran perceives as a hostile power, heightens anxieties about a foreign military and commercial presence on its northern frontier.
“The Islamic Republic will not easily overlook the issue of Zangezur,” said Ali Bagheri Kani, secretary of Iran’s Strategic Council on Foreign Relations, in an interview with IRIB. He described the corridor as a “challenge to regional security and sovereignty,” echoing sentiments expressed in a sharply worded editorial in Kayhan, a daily supervised by Khamenei, which labeled the agreement a “great betrayal” that “must not go unanswered.” The editorial even suggested invoking international conventions to ban US- and Israeli-affiliated vessels from the Strait of Hormuz as a retaliatory measure.
Iran’s concerns are not unfounded. The Zangezur Corridor could strengthen the Ankara-Baku axis, aligning Azerbaijan more closely with Turkey, a NATO member, and potentially integrating the region into Western-led trade networks like China’s Belt and Road Initiative. This shift could marginalize Iran’s role in regional commerce and weaken its strategic partnership with Armenia, a key ally in the Caucasus. As Hamidreza Azizi, a fellow at the German Institute for International and Security Affairs, told Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, the corridor could “deprive Iran of its natural land access to the South Caucasus,” placing it at the mercy of routes controlled by Azerbaijan or foreign actors.
A Region Steeped in Conflict
The Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict has deep historical roots, with the two nations fighting two major wars over Nagorno-Karabakh since the late 1980s. The most recent conflict in 2023 saw Azerbaijan recapture the disputed region in a lightning offensive, triggering the exodus of over 100,000 ethnic Armenians. The US-brokered deal, signed by Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, seeks to normalize relations and foster economic cooperation through the Zangezur Corridor, which would facilitate trade and energy exports to Europe via Turkey.
The White House has promoted the corridor as a transformative project, with a senior official claiming it positions the United States as “an enormous strategic commercial partner, probably the most enormous and strategic in the history of the world.” The official, speaking anonymously, added that the deal represents a setback for China, Russia, and Iran, signaling a shift in regional power dynamics as Russia’s influence wanes following its 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
Turkey, a staunch ally of Azerbaijan, has welcomed the corridor, with Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan describing it as a potential link “between Europe and the depths of Asia.” President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has also offered Ankara’s support for lasting peace in the region, according to Al Jazeera.
Iran’s Counterproposal: The Aras Corridor
In a strategic countermove, Iran has proposed an alternative route, the Aras Corridor, which would connect Azerbaijan to Nakhchivan through its northern provinces, bypassing Armenian territory entirely. According to Yeni Şafak, Iran and Azerbaijan have already signed agreements for bridge and highway construction as part of this project. Tehran hopes the Aras Corridor will generate transit revenue while preserving its influence in the region and preventing border changes that could favor its rivals.
This proposal places Azerbaijan in a strategic position, allowing it to leverage both the US-backed Zangezur Corridor and Iran’s Aras Corridor in diplomatic negotiations. However, the competing proposals have created a new layer of rivalry in the South Caucasus, with Iran signaling its readiness to act decisively to protect its interests.
Regional and Global Implications
The Zangezur Corridor dispute is more than a regional issue; it is a flashpoint where competing visions of sovereignty, influence, and economic power collide. For Armenia, the corridor raises concerns about sovereignty, as Yerevan insists that any route remain under its legal jurisdiction. Azerbaijan, meanwhile, views the corridor as a vital link to Nakhchivan and a step toward post-war integration, but it remains wary of foreign supervision. Richard Giragosian, director of the Regional Studies Center in Yerevan, described the US proposal as a “reckless real estate deal” that may not fully grasp the region’s complexities.
Russia, once a dominant mediator in the South Caucasus, has expressed cautious support for the peace deal but warned against outside intervention that could create new divisions. Moscow’s influence has diminished since its invasion of Ukraine, leaving a power vacuum that the United States appears eager to fill. However, Iran’s military drills and fiery rhetoric suggest that Tehran is prepared to challenge any Western presence near its borders, even without Moscow’s support.
The corridor also has implications for global trade. By linking Azerbaijan to Turkey via Nakhchivan, the Zangezur Corridor could bolster Baku’s access to European markets for its oil and gas exports, potentially reducing reliance on Russian energy routes. The White House has outlined plans for rail lines, energy pipelines, and fiber optic infrastructure, with at least nine developers reportedly interested in the project.
Voices from the Region
The emotional weight of this issue is palpable across the South Caucasus. In Armenia, citizens fear that the corridor could compromise their nation’s sovereignty, while Azerbaijanis see it as a triumph of their territorial integrity. In Iran, the rhetoric is charged with defiance, with Velayati’s warning of a “graveyard for Trump’s mercenaries” resonating with nationalist sentiments. Social media posts on X reflect the polarized sentiment, with some users praising the peace deal as a “miracle” for Armenia and Azerbaijan, while others echo Iran’s concerns about foreign interference.
Ahmad Shahidov, of the Azerbaijan Institute for Democracy and Human Rights, told Al Jazeera that the deal represents a “roadmap” for a final peace agreement, with no unresolved territorial disputes remaining. Yet, for many Iranians, the corridor is seen as a geopolitical trap, with fears that it could embolden NATO’s presence in the region.
What Lies Ahead?
As tensions simmer, the Zangezur Corridor remains a contentious symbol of the broader struggle for influence in the South Caucasus. Iran’s proposed Aras Corridor offers a potential compromise, but its viability depends on Azerbaijan’s willingness to pivot away from the US-backed plan. Meanwhile, Armenia and Azerbaijan must navigate the delicate balance of peace-building while addressing the concerns of their powerful neighbors.
The international community watches closely as the region stands at a crossroads. Will the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity deliver on its promise of stability and economic growth, or will it ignite new conflicts in an already volatile region? For now, Iran’s resolute stance underscores the challenges of brokering peace in a region where history, geopolitics, and national pride intersect.
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