Tehran — August 1, 2025 — Iran’s government is pushing back against what it calls “distorted” portrayals of the Zangezur Corridor in domestic media, as the high-stakes South Caucasus transport project reshapes regional geopolitics and fuels internal political rivalries in Tehran.
Government spokesperson Fatemeh Mohajerani, addressing reporters in Tehran, criticized certain Iranian outlets and social media commentators for spreading claims that the U.S.-backed corridor — officially named the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity — would result in Iran “losing its northern borders.”
“The widely discussed Zangezur question concerns only a very small section of Iran’s northern territory,” Mohajerani said. “Tehran remains fully committed to restoring stability in the South Caucasus, safeguarding states’ territorial integrity, and protecting their sovereignty.”
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Her remarks come as the corridor — designed to connect mainland Azerbaijan with its Nakhchivan exclave via Armenia — moves from concept to political reality following an August 8 signing in Washington between the leaders of Azerbaijan, Armenia, and the United States.
A Regional Flashpoint
For years, Iranian hardliners, particularly within the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and the conservative circles surrounding Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, have opposed the Zangezur project. They argue it could undermine Iran’s role as a key transit hub, diminish its leverage over north-south trade routes, and strengthen both Azerbaijan and Turkey’s influence in the South Caucasus.
Now, with the operational control of the corridor set to go to an American company under the Washington agreement — a departure from the original 2020 Russia-brokered deal — Tehran faces a drastically altered strategic landscape. The shift is viewed in Moscow and Tehran as part of a broader U.S. move to displace both powers from the region.
Domestic Political Fault Lines
Mohajerani’s measured comments underscore a split within Iran’s political establishment. President Masoud Pezeshkian and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi have signaled pragmatism, stressing that Azerbaijan and Armenia have formally committed to respecting sovereignty and borders — a stance that aligns with Iran’s official foreign policy principles.
In contrast, hardliners led by senior adviser Ali Akbar Velayati and IRGC commanders have intensified their rhetoric, framing the corridor as a national security threat and a direct challenge to Iran’s regional influence. Analysts say this reflects not only foreign policy disagreements but also the broader struggle over who will shape Iran’s strategic direction in the post-Khamenei era.
A New Balance of Power
Political observers note that the U.S. entry into the corridor’s administration is part of a larger realignment. Turkey has already entrenched itself as a regional power broker through its alliance with Azerbaijan, while China has expressed interest in future integration of the route into its Belt and Road Initiative.
For Iran, the challenge is twofold: maintaining access to regional trade while preventing strategic isolation. Tehran has promoted its own Aras Corridor as an alternative route, but delays on the Iranian side — including unfulfilled commitments to build a new bridge to Azerbaijan’s Agbend — have weakened its position.
Outlook
The Zangezur Corridor is no longer just an infrastructure project — it is now a test of regional influence and domestic political cohesion in Iran. As the U.S., Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Armenia move forward with implementation, Tehran must decide whether to cooperate, compete, or obstruct.
For now, the government’s message is clear: downplay fears, project stability, and keep Iran in the game. But as one Azerbaijani analyst put it, “This corridor is changing the map of the South Caucasus — and Iran has to decide whether it wants to be part of the route, or just watch it pass by.”
