Armenia says able to link Iran to Eurasia market, rejects any extraterritorial corridor

Armenian Ambassador to Iran Arsen Avakian said his country is able to act as a gateway connecting Iran to Eurasian market, reiterating that any extraterritorial corridor is ‘unacceptable’.

News ID: 5280

Date: 20 October 2024 - 11:42

TABNAK, Oct, 20: Any transportation route needs to be under sovereignty and discretion of the intended country,” he said referring to Azerbaijan and Turkey’s moves to run controversial and fake Zangezur corridor.

Iran holds the same position as Armenia regarding Zangezur corridor. The position by top Iranian officials shows that Tehran does not allow the creation of the so-called Zangezur Corridor.

The Zangezur Corridor, referred to as the “Zangezur Economic Corridor,” is a proposed land route that aims to connect Azerbaijan with its exclave of Nakhchivan, traversing southern Armenia. This corridor creates a direct transportation link between Azerbaijan and Turkey, circumventing the landlocked pathway through Georgia.

The Zangezur Corridor has sparked significant controversy among regional stakeholders, with Iran and Armenia expressing opposition due to fears regarding national security and territorial integrity. If established, the corridor could enable Azerbaijan to gain direct access to its border with Turkey, thereby avoiding Armenia and facilitating a continuous transportation route between the two nations.

Other than close political ties and positions on transit issues, between the two sides, Iran and Armenia are cooperating in energy, infrastructure and transportation, including Agarak-Kajaran route as part of the International North-South Transit Corridor (INSTC) in the Armenian territory underway by an Iranian contracting company.

The road would play a significant role connecting Persian Gulf to Black Sea.

Swapping Iran’s gas for Armenian power is another project signed last year between the two sides and has been operational since then which makes it possible to increase Armenian electricity export to Iran in return for pumping more gas from Iran.

“Armenian geographical position will make it possible to be a bridge connecting Iran to Eurasian Economic Union market. Our government welcomes a free trade agreement between members of the union and Iran,” Avakian also said in an interview with ISNA.