Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has told Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian that a planned corridor linking Azerbaijan with its exclave would be under Armenian control.
The assurance comes days after Iran expressed concerns over the project, which is part of a US-brokered peace accord between Armenia and Azerbaijan.
“Roads passing through Armenia will be under the exclusive jurisdiction of Armenia, and security will be provided by Armenia, not by any third country,” Pashinyan said at a meeting with Pezeshkian in Yerevan on Tuesday.
The land corridor, dubbed the “Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity” (TRIPP), is part of a deal signed this month in Washington between former foes Armenia and Azerbaijan.
Under the agreement, the US will hold development rights for the proposed route, which would connect Azerbaijan to its Nakhchivan exclave bordering Iran and Turkey.
Iran has long opposed the planned transit route, fearing it would cut the country off from Armenia and the rest of the Caucasus while bringing potentially hostile foreign forces close to its borders.
Pezeshkian reiterated Iran’s concerns over the project, saying that “governance in the Caucasus region must remain Caucasian – outsourcing the resolution of Caucasus issues to extra-regional forces will complicate it.”
He added that “Iran’s position has always been to reject any changes to international borders in the Caucasus region.”
The Iranian president’s comments highlight the country’s concerns over the potential for US influence in the region and the impact on its own relationships with neighboring countries.
The proposed corridor has been hailed as beneficial by other countries in the region, including Russia, with which Iran has a strategic alliance alongside Armenia.
However, Iran’s concerns over the project have been evident since the deal was signed on August 8, with Iranian officials warning that the project could be part of a US ploy “to pursue hegemonic goals in the Caucasus region”.
The complex dynamics between Armenia, Azerbaijan, Iran, and the US highlight the challenges of navigating regional relationships and interests.
As the situation continues to unfold, it remains to be seen how the parties involved will address their concerns and work towards a resolution.
Armenia and Azerbaijan have a long-standing conflict over the Nagorno-Karabakh region, which has led to several wars since the late 1980s. The recent deal signed in Washington aims to bring peace and new economic opportunities to the two rivals, but issues remain.