Iran rejects planned transit corridor outlined in Armenia-Azerbaijan pact
Iran has firmly rejected the planned transit corridor outlined in the recent Armenia-Azerbaijan peace pact, explicitly stating it will oppose and block the route, which passes near its border and has been brokered by the United States.
The planned corridor—officially called the “Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity”—would link Azerbaijan to its Nakhchivan exclave by running through southern Armenia, granting Baku a direct land connection to Turkey. The United States would have exclusive development rights for this corridor, intended to boost regional trade and facilitate energy exports. Iran objects strongly because it fears the project threatens its direct land access to Armenia and the wider Caucasus, could enable a foreign (especially US) military and commercial presence on its border, and may destabilize regional security.
Iranian Supreme Leader’s adviser, Ali Akbar Velayati, called the plan “an impossible notion” that “will not happen,” warning it would endanger the South Caucasus’ security and could become “a graveyard for Trump’s mercenaries”. Iran has also demonstrated its opposition through military drills in the area, emphasizing its readiness to defend its interests.
While Iran’s Foreign Ministry formally welcomed the overall peace agreement as a positive step, it issued a warning against any outside intervention near its borders, indicating that the specific transit plan remains a red line for Tehran.
This development also comes amid shifting regional dynamics, with Russia reacting cautiously to the US-brokered deal and emphasizing the importance of existing trilateral agreements involving Russia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan. The corridor significantly impacts the geopolitical landscape, as it could reduce both Russian and Iranian influence over Armenia and the Caucasus region.
