Iran has rejected a proposed transit corridor outlined in a peace accord between Armenia and Azerbaijan, citing concerns over national sovereignty and territorial integrity. The corridor, which would link Azerbaijan to an Azerbaijani enclave near its border with Iran, is part of a US-brokered deal aimed at promoting lasting peace in the region.
According to Ali Akbar Velayati, a top adviser to Iran’s supreme leader, Tehran will block the initiative “with or without Russia,” which has a strategic alliance with Armenia. Velayati described the plan as “political treachery” aimed at undermining Armenia’s territorial integrity and warned that it would open the way for NATO to position itself between Iran and Russia.
The corridor, named the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity, is expected to be developed under Armenian law and operate with exclusive US development rights. Iran’s foreign ministry has expressed concern over the negative consequences of any foreign intervention in its vicinity and warned that lasting solutions should be developed by countries in the region.
Russia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs also cautiously welcomed the deal but warned against outside intervention, arguing that it would strengthen the peace agenda rather than create new divisions. The agreement has been hailed by other countries in the region as beneficial for achieving lasting peace, with Armenia and Azerbaijan agreeing to return several villages in a “long-awaited historic event.”
The corridor is expected to be a key development in the peace process, which appears imminent given there are no unresolved territorial disputes between Armenia and Azerbaijan.
Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/8/9/iran-rejects-planned-transit-corridor-outlined-in-armenia-azerbaijan-pact