What Does Iran's Admission of the Failure of the Zangezur Corridor Project Mean?

The Zangezur Corridor belongs to Armenia and separates the Azerbaijani territory from the Azerbaijani autonomous province of Nakhchivan (Al Jazeera)

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan called on Iran to support the construction of the Zangezur Corridor, describing it as an "integrated project connecting the Turkic world through Turkish territory and opening new horizons for regional development." Just 10 days later, Ali Akbar Velayati, the highest leader's advisor on international affairs in Turkey, talked about the struggle for influence in the Caucasus region and said that Tehran "blocked the Zangezur Corridor project connecting Azerbaijan and Nakhchivan through Armenian territory."

Although Velayati believes that the Zangezur Corridor project "aims to divide Armenia and cut off Iran's access to Europe," he added last Sunday in an interview with the website of the Iranian Supreme Leader that Iran could maintain security in the South Caucasus and prevent NATO infiltration without Russian support.

A week ago, Tehran firmly opposed any strategic shift in the South Caucasus and refused "unilateral imposed" regional connectivity projects, insisting that "selective projects marginalizing countries or changing balances" were unacceptable.

Velayati: The Zangezur Corridor project aims to divide Armenia and cut off Iran's route to Europe (Al Jazeera)

Tehran's Position

In response to Turkish President Erdogan's call for Iran to join the Zangezur Corridor, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Seyyed Hamid Bagherzadeh stated that Iran's position is based on "firm principles: respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries." He emphasized in a press statement that any regional participation must be comprehensive and based on consensus.

Despite this, observers in Tehran said that Velayati's statement represents Iran's first public acknowledgment of playing a decisive role in blocking projects threatening Tehran's strategic interests. Tehran considers the project an attempt to cut off its "important route" through Armenia and Georgia to Europe and isolate the Islamic Republic of Iran from the South Caucasus.

In this context, former Iranian Ambassador to Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, Mohsen Pak-Aein, believes that the corridor will be transformed into military bases for some regional countries, allowing NATO and Zionist entities to monitor Iran's borders by deploying advanced radars and weapons. This has prompted Tehran to take political action and mobilize military forces to block the project.

The proposed transport route will connect the Azerbaijani capital Baku, Nakhchivan, Turkey, and Kars via the Zangezur Corridor, adjacent to the Iran-Armenia border (source: TRT)

Encrypted Messages

Pak-Aein told Al Jazeera that Velayati's statement contained encrypted information, stating that "we have maintained security in the South Caucasus without Russian support," indicating that Moscow, focused on its war with Ukraine, has distanced itself from the project. This means that Tehran's "sole" opposition to the project has made it a "security guarantor" in the South Caucasus.

The same speaker pointed out that his country maintains regional peace by disrupting foreign projects at the border and weakening the enemy's influence in the South Caucasus. It also supports the return of Nagorno-Karabakh to Azerbaijan, prevents any infringement of Armenia's sovereignty, and prevents Russia from being encircled from the south.

Domestically, Velayati's remarks are understood as part of Iran's strategy to strengthen national unity in the face of external threats. They have received support from some politicians who consider maintaining Iran's national security a top priority.

This former Iranian ambassador to Baku concluded that Velayati's recent remarks aim to send a message both domestically and internationally: Iran has never been as strong and capable in its history as it is today.

Ankara's Position

In Turkey, Ankara views the Zangezur Corridor project as the cornerstone of strengthening geographical and economic connectivity with Azerbaijan and as a new window to Central Asia.

The corridor extends from Nakhchivan through Armenia to Azerbaijan and is expected to become a key hub of a large-scale trade route worth trillions of dollars from London to Beijing, bringing significant economic benefits to neighboring countries.

Turkish President Erdogan previously emphasized the geopolitical importance of the corridor, calling it "not just a transit route but a strategic integrated route connecting the Turkic world through Turkish territory." He pointed out that the project would enhance the transportation and energy infrastructure capabilities of the South Caucasus region.

Last month, when Erdogan returned from Azerbaijan, he emphasized that the Zangezur Corridor "is not limited to connecting Azerbaijan and Nakhchivan; it is a broader integrated project connecting the Turkic world and opening new horizons for regional development."

He added: "We expect our neighboring country Iran to support these initiatives because they provide opportunities for peace, stability, and development. Every channel opened and every step taken will help unite the people of various countries and promote their common economic interests."

Erdogan (left) and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev support the opening and establishment of the Zangezur Corridor (Anadolu Agency)

Ambition

Lutfi Karji, a researcher at the International Relations Institute of Azerbaijan University, believes that the Zangezur Corridor is one of Turkey's most ambitious geopolitical projects since the end of the Cold War. He emphasized that this is not just an infrastructure project but also embodies Ankara's concept of building a "unified Turkic world" within the Turkic Council (OTC).

Karji stated that the corridor will provide direct land connections for Turkey and Central Asian Turkic republics without passing through Iranian or Russian territories, thereby enhancing Ankara's status as an alternative geopolitical and trade corridor at the center of Eurasia.

In terms of economics, Karji confirmed to Al Jazeera that the corridor will open a strategic land and rail transport route extending from Turkish territory to the Caspian Sea and from there deep into Central Asia, reaching China. This will strengthen Turkey's position in China's Belt and Road Initiative and give it logistical and commercial advantages in regional markets by reducing transportation costs and accelerating the flow of goods.

Regarding Iran's attitude toward the project, Karji noted that Tehran's public opposition reflects its genuine strategic concerns over losing its key corridor status connecting Azerbaijan and the Nakhchivan Republic, as well as concerns over regional imbalances favoring the Turkey-Azerbaijan alliance.

He warned that such a stance might complicate the implementation of some important transportation and energy projects and lead to escalated political tensions around cross-border corridors. Regional powers like Armenia and Russia may use Iran's refusal of the project to pressure it or propose alternative routes.

Regional Competition

However, Karji believes that given the growing alliance between Ankara and Baku and their continuous mutual support politically and on the ground, the impact of such opposition will not be decisive in the long term.

On the other hand, academic and political analyst Ali Fuad Gokce believes that although Iran and Turkey have not fought a war for centuries, their relationship is built on intense regional competition, with both sides attempting to maintain the balance of power in the region.

He insisted in an interview with Al Jazeera that "Iran has been and remains the most proactive party in this competition," adding that Tehran closely monitors every move by Turkey due to its sensitivity to the large number of Turkic-speaking minorities within its borders.

Gokce believes that the Zangezur Corridor is one of the most prominent manifestations of this silent conflict and points out that the project will provide Turkey with a direct land route to Central Asia and reshape the balance of power in the South Caucasus, favoring Ankara and Baku, which may prompt Iran to obstruct it.

He added: "Iran may temporarily hinder the implementation of the corridor, but it has not stopped it; it has only delayed it. In my view, this corridor will eventually be realized."

Despite Turkey's interpretation of Velayati's remarks in the context of regional power struggles, the question remains how Iran will respond to the positions of regional and international society and the reactions of other countries to Tehran's policies. Understanding these dynamics will help paint a clearer picture of the future of Iran's relations with its neighbors and how they will affect security and stability in the region.

Source: aljazeera

Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7515041642068705844/

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