Shoigu on the 'Zangezur Corridor' and Iran's Sovereignty

“Russia reaffirms its respect for Iran's sovereignty regarding transportation routes in the South Caucasus,” stated Russia's Security Council Secretary Sergey Shoigu during a meeting in St. Petersburg with his Iranian counterpart Ali Akbar Ahmadian, according to the Iranian Tehran Times media outlet.

Ahead of the meeting on September 10, it was revealed that among bilateral issues, the topic of regional communications would also be discussed, notably the route connecting Azerbaijan to Nakhchivan, a subject of considerable sensitivity for Tehran.

According to Tehran Times, the Iranian side noted a statement made by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov one month prior, in which he accused the Armenian side of “sabotage” regarding the opening of communication routes.

Iran regularly expresses its disagreement with Azerbaijan and Russia's demands for an extraterritorial corridor or road from Armenia.

Additionally, on September 4, the Iranian semi-official Tasnim agency reported that Iran urges Russia to abandon support for the controversial idea of the “Zangezur Corridor.”