First, we should discuss the countries connected to the Zangezur Corridor and then talk about its geopolitical and security implications. We will try to examine and analyze most of the countries in this region.
Republic of Azerbaijan:
Azerbaijan is the largest country in the South Caucasus (Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia, and Nakhchivan), located in Eastern Europe and Western Asia (Iran, Iraq, Syria, Turkey, Lebanon, Israel, and smaller countries like Cyprus, Armenia, and Azerbaijan), adjacent to the Caspian Sea.
The largest city and capital of this country is Baku, and the official language is Azerbaijani or Turkish. Around 200 years ago, this republic was part of Iran’s territory, but it was separated from Iran and joined Russia by the Golestan and Turkmenchay treaties. In 1991, it separated from the Soviet Union and became its current form. Azerbaijan shares borders with Iran to the south, Armenia and Turkey to the west, Georgia and Russia to the north.
Armenia:
Armenia is a landlocked country located in the South Caucasus, bordered by Iran and Nakhchivan to the south, Georgia to the north, Azerbaijan to the east, and Turkey to the west. Its capital is Yerevan, and its official language is Armenian.
Armenia was once part of Iran, and it is mentioned as “Armenia” in the inscriptions of Darius. Armenia later changed its name to Armenia, and after being part of Iran, it became part of the Soviet Union, gaining independence in 1991.
Autonomous Republic of Nakhchivan:
Nakhchivan is part of the Republic of Azerbaijan, though it has no territorial or geographical connection with Azerbaijan. Its language is Turkish. This autonomous republic is located in the southern Caucasus, north of the Aras River, bordered by Armenia to the north and east, Iran to the south, and Turkey to the west. It was separated from Iran based on the Turkmenchay Treaty and was detached from Azerbaijan in 1918 by Armenians but later reintegrated into Azerbaijan with the declaration of autonomy.
Iran:
Iran is a country located in Western Asia and the Middle East. It shares borders with Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Nakhchivan (Caucasus) to the north, the Caspian Sea and Turkmenistan in Central Asia to the northeast, Afghanistan and Pakistan to the east, the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman to the south, and Turkey and Iraq to the west.
Corridors in the Caucasus:
- Lachin Corridor: The Lachin Corridor is the communication route between Armenia and the Nagorno-Karabakh region, connecting them via a mountainous road. It is part of the Lachin district but is under the control of Russian peacekeeping forces following the Nagorno-Karabakh ceasefire agreement. This corridor is crucial for maintaining Armenia’s connection with Nagorno-Karabakh after the Karabakh wars and peace agreements between Armenia and Azerbaijan.
- Zangezur Corridor: The Zangezur Corridor connects Azerbaijan to Nakhchivan, passing through southern Armenia. Control over this corridor by Azerbaijan would sever the land border between Iran and Armenia. This corridor could eliminate Iran’s route to Turkey via Azerbaijan. Some observers describe it as a Pan-Turkist initiative (as Azerbaijan, Nakhchivan, and Turkey are Turkic-speaking nations). It has significant geopolitical importance, especially in establishing direct connectivity between Azerbaijan and Turkey, which has become more prominent after the 2020 Karabakh War and subsequent peace agreements.
- Aras Corridor: The Aras River originates in the eastern mountains of Turkey and flows along the border between Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Iran, joining the Kura River in Azerbaijan. It serves as a natural boundary between Iran and the Caucasus countries, especially Azerbaijan and Armenia, and was an important border during the Soviet era. This corridor, equipped with highways and railways, parallels the Zangezur Corridor in Armenia. The Aras Corridor, running from east to west, connects the Aghband village in Azerbaijan to the Ordubad district in southern Nakhchivan, passing through Eastern Azerbaijan Province in Iran. It could act as an alternative to the Zangezur Corridor, easing Iran’s concerns about its border with Azerbaijan.
- North-South Corridor: Iran’s strategic, geopolitical, and geo-economic importance (especially in energy) has always attracted the attention of global powers. Its rail and road network, coupled with access to the long coastlines of the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman in the south, and the Caspian Sea in the north, are of interest to major global economies. The North-South Corridor was conceptualized in 2001 as a new trade route to strengthen economic ties between India, Central Asia, and Eastern Europe. The North-South Corridor agreement was signed in 2000 by the transportation ministers of Iran, India, and Russia. In June 2022, the first multimodal transit shipment from Russia to India via Iran was sent, activating the corridor after years of negotiations. The corridor consists of three main sections:
- Land and Rail Section: From northern Europe to Russia, across the Caspian Sea, and into Iran.
- Sea Section: From the Caspian Sea through Iran’s northern ports to the southern ports in the Persian Gulf and Oman, continuing toward the Indian Ocean.
- Southern Rail and Road Section: From India, connecting to other parts of South Asia.
Benefits of the Corridor:
- Reduced transportation costs and time (compared to the traditional Suez Canal route).
- Increased economic cooperation between member countries.
- Facilitation of trade exchanges and strengthening transportation infrastructure.
This corridor is a strategic project for countries like Iran, India, and Russia.
Conclusion:
Considering the discussions above, the Zangezur Corridor has become particularly important, as it directly relates to Iran’s transit routes. The Islamic Republic of Iran cannot be expected to develop if it acts against development. Iran’s sanctions have led to the failure of attracting both domestic and foreign investments. As a result, investments in railways, high-speed trains, and modern ships for transportation, as well as road infrastructure, have not been realized, and Iran has fallen behind regional countries. In the Islamic Republic, there is no transparent banking system, which is why the country hasn’t signed the FATF to ensure financial transparency (anti-money laundering regulations).
In reality, three countries—India, China, and Russia—are connected via Central Asia and the Caucasus to Turkey through the Zangezur Corridor, reaching Europe from there. Many countries will benefit from this transit, including Pakistan and Afghanistan.
(Afghanistan, though not yet internationally recognized, could play an important role in future international relations.)
The Islamic Republic’s revolutionary policies, its confrontations with many world countries (European countries, the U.S., and regional Arab governments), as well as its lack of national commitment to Iran’s interests and its failure to create a comprehensive plan for development, have caused Iran to be neglected and miss many opportunities.
Ali Nazari Nafouti
International Studies Analyst and Researcher
