Putin's Visit to Baku Triggers Iran-Russia Tensions Over the 'Zangezur Corridor': Jamestown Foundation

The American Jamestown Foundation has published a detailed article titled "Putin's Visit to Baku Triggers Iran-Russia Tensions Over the 'Zangezur Corridor.'" The visit of Putin to Azerbaijan (August 18-19) indicates how Russia is striving to maintain its influence in the region, which may lead neighboring countries like Iran and Armenia to feel threatened.

Contrary to local observers' expectations, the visit did not yield any substantial agreements or politically binding economic commitments. Several statements were made regarding joint initiatives, including collaboration in food security, the establishment of a Russian-Azerbaijani university, and joint production of oil tankers.

Considering the modest nature of the agreements reached, many local and international observers interpreted the main motive behind Putin's visit as a demonstration that Russia has friends and allies and is not diplomatically as isolated as the West would like to portray.

The article mentions that relations between Russia and Azerbaijan have reached a crisis phase with Iran following Putin's visit to Baku. This is due to Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's remarks in Baku regarding the 'Zangezur Corridor.' He stated that this is a planned transport route that will connect Azerbaijan to Nakhchivan through Armenia's Syunik province.

Emphasizing the implementation of the trilateral agreements signed between Russia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan in 2020 and 2021, Lavrov accused Yerevan of sabotaging the agreement signed by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan concerning transport routes through Syunik.

Lavrov's statement caused significant uproar in Armenia. The Armenian Foreign Ministry characterized it as "false, obviously biased, and... disrespectful..." The disagreement over the corridor has led to clashes between Moscow and Yerevan, and this tension is expected to escalate in the coming months.

The article notes that the deployment of Russian border troops in the 'Zangezur Corridor' is of crucial importance for the Kremlin to maintain its influential role in the region.

Regarding Iran's response, various officials and media in Iran have continuously criticized Russia's efforts to establish the 'Zangezur Corridor' since Putin's visit, interpreting it as a geopolitical maneuver that would sever Iran's border with Armenia. On August 29, the spokesperson for the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova, stated that Russia is aware of Iran's concerns, adding that "Russia believes that the relevant agreements must be implemented on a mutually accepted basis and conditions."

"This should be done in a way that serves the interests of Armenia, Azerbaijan, and their neighboring countries: Russia, Iran, and Turkey," Zakharova stated.

“This statement did not appease the Iranian side. On September 3, the Russian ambassador in Tehran was summoned to the Iranian Foreign Ministry, where he was informed that ‘Tehran is opposed to any changes in internationally recognized borders and geopolitical alterations in the region.’” In a recent statement by Iranian officials, the Iranian ambassador to Armenia said, "All dreams and illusions related to the 'Zangezur Corridor' will never come true. We are confident that full control must be exercised by the Armenian government under its sovereignty."

“We warn those pursuing such illusions that the repercussions of such decisions will be severe and costly,” threatened Ebrahim Azizin, head of the Iranian Parliament's National Security and Foreign Policy Commission.

“Despite Iran's consistent concerns regarding the 'Zangezur Corridor,' this is the first time its criticism is explicitly directed towards Russia. A key question arises: why now? Perhaps Iranian authorities believe that Russia is preparing to take specific steps towards implementing this transit route, or the criticism may simply reflect deeper tensions between Moscow and Tehran.”

“Another issue relates to the fact that Russia already has border guards stationed along the Armenia-Iran border. Iran may also be concerned about the strengthening of Russian military presence near its borders. While the answers to these questions are currently unclear, Tehran's opposition to the deployment of Russian border guards in the Zangezur Corridor complicates the ongoing negotiations around the reopening of regional transport routes and is likely to create further issues between Moscow and Tehran,” concludes the Jamestown Foundation.