Two Interconnected Significant Events Occurred Recently, Iranian Expert

Iranian expert Vardan Voskanian writes: In recent days, I believe, two extremely important interconnected events took place. The first freight train from Turkey reached Russia via the Kars-Akhalkalaki-Baku railway, immediately followed by Sukhumi's request to Moscow, expressing readiness to open railway communication between Russia and Armenia through Abkhazia.

It is evident that in the context of the "unblocking of communication routes" project, there are now geopolitically significant developments around Georgia, and the issue is not limited to the economic sector. Ankara and Baku want to assure Tbilisi with the first train to Russia that Georgia will not lose its transit significance under any circumstances, but will even increase it.

Meanwhile, Moscow, which, by the way, was already exerting certain propaganda influence on Georgia regarding the launch of the Sukhumi-Tbilisi-Yerevan railway before Abkhazia's request, is essentially striving to nullify the significance of the railway project aimed at connecting Armenia to Russia via Azerbaijani territory and thereby weaken Turkish-Azerbaijani influence.

If we consider that, as a result of unblocking, the most rapidly operational railway could be the Julfa (Iran)-Nakhchivan-Yerevan route, then the opening of the Abkhazian railway will significantly diminish the relevance of the "continental" Azerbaijan-Iran-Russia railway communication project, especially since the Iranian side has yet to establish the railway from Astara to Rasht.

What should Armenia do? It should use all means at its disposal to negotiate with Georgia on the issue of opening the Abkhazian route, which would also allow for a much tougher stance on the so-called "Turanian corridor," opening the prospect of neutralizing it through joint efforts of Armenia, Georgia, Russia, and Iran.