Zangazur Corridor: Threat or Opportunity for Iran Amid Armenia-Azerbaijan-US Agreement?

Farhikhtegan newspaper addressed whether the Armenia-Azerbaijan-US agreement regarding the Zangazur corridor ultimately poses a threat to Iran. According to Farhikhtegan, parts of the report stated:

The Zangazur corridor case reflects the region’s geopolitical complexities. On one hand, there are concerns about the closure of Iran’s routes to Europe, while on the other hand, there are arguments emphasizing the uncertainty of such closures.

The philosophy behind Zangazur can be seen in regional competitions. Former President Trump named it after himself and presented it as a peace achievement, while Armenia, through its Four-Way Peace project, seeks to maintain balance. Critics emphasize the restriction of Iran’s access, whereas proponents point to Armenia’s control over the route. US presence could exert pressure, but Iran can keep the routes open through economic and political planning.

Supporters responding to claims about renting the route to an American company note that such a matter is not included in the original agreement text. Given that the US conducts security activities in many other neighboring countries, Iran must face the situation as it does in other cases. This does not mean ignoring potential security challenges. Iran should, while closely monitoring security developments, warn its northern neighbors of any security actions against it and make it clear that if Iran is threatened from their territory, security considerations will override diplomatic relations, and Iran will include the source of threats in its list of legitimate targets.