TEHRAN, July 21 — Iran has issued a response to recent remarks by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev concerning the proposed Zangezur Corridor, reiterating its long-standing stance on regional connectivity and sovereignty.
Speaking at a press briefing, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Ismail Baghaei emphasized that Tehran’s position on regional transport corridors has remained “clear and consistent.”
“We support the development of connectivity among regional countries,” Baghaei stated, as reported by the Telegram channel Free Iran. “However, any corridor or route must not compromise the territorial integrity and sovereignty of nations.”
He added that all such infrastructure projects must adhere to international law and avoid disrupting the geopolitical balance of the South Caucasus.
The remarks come in response to President Aliyev’s repeated insistence that Azerbaijan will establish a direct land link to its Nakhchivan exclave, with or without Armenia’s participation. The proposed corridor, known as the Zangezur Corridor, has sparked concerns in Tehran, which opposes any change to regional borders or control mechanisms that might threaten Iranian access to Armenia.
While Azerbaijan views the corridor as a vital component of its post-war infrastructure strategy and part of the broader Middle Corridor trade route, Iran has warned against any initiative that could lead to what it sees as extraterritorial control across Armenian territory.
The diplomatic exchange underscores the ongoing complexity surrounding transport and sovereignty in the South Caucasus, where regional power interests continue to shape the future of cross-border connectivity.
