Iran Responds to Erdogan's Statement on the 'Zangezur Corridor'

Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, while returning from Baku to Ankara, stated in a conversation with journalists on the plane that Iran is against the implementation of the Zangezur corridor project and expressed regret over the Islamic Republic's stance.

Iran's response was swift. The spokesman for Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Ayatollah Seyyed Hassan Amili, rushed to refute the Turkish leader's statement. According to him, Iran is not opposed to the establishment of direct transport communication between Azerbaijan and Nakhchivan. He added that Turkey should not be concerned about this matter.

“Iran has no issues with establishing a transport link between Azerbaijan and Nakhchivan through Armenian territory. For about 20 years, Iran has allowed Azerbaijan to use its territory for communication with Nakhchivan. During the war and occupation, it conducted transports between Azerbaijan and Nakhchivan via Bilasuvar and Jugha. This route is still open for Azerbaijani vehicles. If Armenia does not allow a transport link through its territory to Nakhchivan, we are ready to build a better road connecting Azerbaijan with Nakhchivan through Iranian territory. Azerbaijan, Nakhchivan, and Turkey should be linked through Iranian lands; both routes could easily facilitate Turkey's transportation of its goods to Central Asia. But if they claim they want ownership of the land rather than mere transit, that does not align with international norms and the national sovereignty of nations and governments,” said Ayatollah Amili.