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Iranwire – Recent remarks by Russian authorities regarding the contentious Zangezur Corridor in the South Caucasus have given rise to new disputes among the countries in the region.
What is at stake? What do Russia, Türkiye, and Azerbaijan aim to achieve in this border region of Iran?
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi strongly opposed Russia’s support for the opening of the Zangezur Corridor in the South Caucasus, calling any redrawing of borders a “red line” for Iran.
Araghchi posted on X, stating, “Any threat from the 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.”
His reaction follows recent discussions between Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev and Russian President Vladimir Putin regarding the establishment of a transport corridor, known as the Zangezur Corridor, which would link Azerbaijan’s western regions to the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic.
The Zangezur Corridor project is gradually being implemented to secure Azerbaijan’s access to the Nakhchivan exclave while bypassing Armenia. However, it remains a contentious issue in peace talks.
Mohsen Rezaei, a member of Iran’s Expediency Discernment Council, also criticized Russia’s stance on this, stating, “The behavior of Russian statesmen regarding the Zangezur Corridor and Iran’s three islands is unacceptable and contradicts their declared friendship and strategic relations with Iran.”
Earlier, in a meeting on July 30, Ali Khamenei, the leader of the Islamic Republic, warned Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan against the establishment of the corridor, dubbing it as being against Iran’s interests.
The Zangezur Corridor has been described as one of the most significant geopolitical projects in the Caucasus. However, its development – intended to connect Azerbaijan with the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic and, from there, to Türkiye – is fraught with geopolitical complexities and potential consequences.
On one side, Türkiye and Azerbaijan portray this route as a vital strategic link for uniting the Turkic world. On the other side, Iran and Armenia view it as a destabilizing factor that threatens their national interests and the regional balance of power.
Iran is concerned that the opening of the corridor could diminish its influence in the Caucasus and undermine its role as a key transit route in the region. Armenia, too, sees the project as a direct threat to its territorial integrity.
Amid these disputes, Russia has taken a more active role. Based on a 2020 agreement following the Nagorno-Karabakh war, Russia seemingly offers a new advantage to Turkic countries in the region. The question now is whether the Zangezur Corridor will indeed foster greater unity among Turkic nations or lead to new regional tensions and conflicts.
Historical Background of Zangezur Corridor
Before the collapse of the Soviet Union, the Zangezur Corridor was historically recognized as part of Azerbaijan. However, significant changes in the 20th century, particularly in 1920 due to Soviet decisions, resulted in the area being ceded to Armenia.
This decision severed the land connection between the Republic of Azerbaijan and Nakhchivan, isolating Nakhchivan and limiting its communication with Azerbaijan to routes through Iran or Armenia. This geographical separation posed a strategic problem for Azerbaijan, constraining its development and international connections.
Following the 44-day war in the fall of 2020, Yerevan and Baku reached a ceasefire agreement mediated by Russia, which included nine articles. According to the agreement, Azerbaijan agreed to open the Lachin Corridor to connect Khankendi with Armenia and, in return, to restore the Zangezur Corridor to link Nakhchivan with Azerbaijan.
A crucial aspect of this agreement was the deployment of Russian peacekeeping forces and Turkish observers in these corridors, which was intended to ensure security and stability in these sensitive communication routes.
Türkiye’s Role and Objectives
Although Türkiye was an observer in the 2020 agreement, it has demonstrated a keen interest in playing a more active role in the reopening of the Zangezur Corridor and pursuing certain strategic and economic goals.
The Zangezur Corridor provides Türkiye with direct access to Turkic-speaking countries. Previously, Türkiye accessed Central Asia through Iran or other routes. The reopening of this corridor would enable Türkiye to connect directly with Azerbaijan and, from there, to Central Asia. This direct access would facilitate Türkiye’s entry into Central Asian markets and resources, thereby, enhancing its influence in the region.
According to Abdulkadir Oraloglu, Türkiye’s Minister of Transport and Infrastructure, reopening the Zangezur Corridor will help achieve a broader goal: creating a continuous trade route from Beijing to London. The corridor positions Türkiye as a key bridge for transferring goods and energy between Europe and Asia, reinforcing its role as a major transit hub for energy and commodities.
Additionally, the Zangezur Corridor is vital for Türkiye’s energy security. It offers direct access to Azerbaijan’s oil and gas resources, meeting Türkiye’s energy needs more securely and economically, and moving it closer to its goal of becoming Europe’s energy hub.
Havva Kök Arslan, a university professor, views the Zangezur Corridor as a significant step towards connecting the Turkic world. It not only supports energy security but also strengthens the unity of Turkic-speaking nations. By reopening the corridor, Türkiye can enhance economic cooperation with Central Asian countries through Azerbaijan.
Ayşegül Ketenci, another Turkish university professor, describes the corridor as “key to regional stability,” noting that it will bolster Türkiye’s influence in the Caucasus and improve cooperation with Turkic-speaking countries.
The Zangezur Corridor holds substantial cultural and political significance for Türkiye. As a bridge to Central Asia, it is crucial to reinforce unity among Turkic peoples. By establishing a direct link between Türkiye and Azerbaijan, both countries can more effectively expand their economic, political, and cultural cooperation.
What Azerbaijan Seeks from Zangezur Corridor?
Azerbaijan aims to leverage the Zangezur Corridor to achieve significant economic and strategic goals. The corridor offers substantial benefits in enhancing Azerbaijan’s role as a logistics hub in Eurasia. By reducing the transport distance between Azerbaijan and Türkiye by approximately 344 km compared to the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway, the corridor can lower international trade costs.
Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev has underscored the importance of the Zangezur Corridor, stating that it represents the “opening of new economic and commercial routes” for Azerbaijan. Essentially, the corridor enables Azerbaijan to export its energy resources to Europe via Turkey.
Since the collapse of the Soviet Union, Nakhchivan has been geographically isolated from the rest of Azerbaijan, severely limiting its economic development and trade opportunities. The Zangezur Corridor would provide a direct land link between Azerbaijan and Nakhchivan, bypassing the need to traverse Iranian or Armenian territory.
The connection would also bolster Azerbaijan’s national unity and facilitate economic and commercial integration with Nakhchivan. Many view this development as a crucial factor for Nakhchivan’s growth and a means for Azerbaijan to utilize its resources more efficiently.
Strategic Competition: Russia, Türkiye, and Iran
As Turkic countries seek greater connectivity and Russia collaborates with them in this pursuit, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has distanced Armenia from Russia in recent years. Yerevan is cautiously pivoting towards the West without abruptly severing ties with Russia.
However, the rapid regional changes have made the Zangezur Corridor a contentious issue. Should control of the corridor fall to the Russian Federal Security Service, it could serve as a powerful tool for Moscow against Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Turkic-speaking countries. Additionally, the economic significance of the corridor, as part of the Middle Silk Road, would enable Russia to increase its trade presence and gain material benefits.
Iran is concerned that the reopening of the corridor could enhance direct links between Türkiye and Azerbaijan, diminishing Iran’s role as a critical transit route. More critically, Iran fears the potential erosion of its territorial leverage over Armenia, which plays a significant role in Iran’s strategic relations with the Caucasus.
The Zangezur Corridor is also of strategic, economic, and geopolitical importance to Türkiye and Azerbaijan. For Türkiye, the corridor offers direct access to Central Asian Turkic-speaking countries and strengthens its position as a key transit hub for energy and goods. For Azerbaijan, reopening the land connection with Nakhchivan enhances its influence and economic role in the region.
Russia’s support for the corridor plan is driven by its desire to maintain influence in the Caucasus and control regional developments. With Russian peacekeeping forces present there, Russia aims to manage regional tensions and counter Western influence.
