Iran repeats its opposition to so-called Zangezur Corridor, warns Azerbaijan

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian reiterated the country would never accept any geopolitical change to borders in the region referring to the proposed "Zangezur" corridor.

News ID: 5921

Date: 03 February 2025 - 20:38

TABNAK, Feb 03: The corridor as dubbed by Azeri and Turkish officials, would slice through Armenia's historic Syunik province, a region that has shared a border with Iran for centuries. Iran has repeatedly reiterated its opposition to the proposed corridor, emphasizing its commitment to preserve and protect its historic borders as well as geopolitical stability in the region.

In a meeting with Assistant to the President of Azerbaijan Hikmet Hajiyev in Tehran on Monday, Pezeshkian said preserving regional countries’ territorial integrity is among the fundamental principles of Tehran’s foreign policy.

“Any change to the borders in the region is absolutely unacceptable. Certain movements by extra-regional powers make it essential to foster unity and cohesion among regional countries and to avoid conflict in any form.”

He said Iran seeks to expand relations among Muslim countries and to boost the Muslim world’s power.

"In addition to establishing consensus and empathy inside the country, we seek to develop relations with neighboring and Muslim countries."

"We believe any form of discord among Muslims will persuade enemies to intervene and sow discord."

Elsewhere in his remarks, Pezeshkian pointed to brotherly ties between Iran and Azerbaijan based on good neighborliness and expressed Tehran’s keenness to promote ties with Baku in various political, economic, cultural, defense and security areas.

He underscored the importance of the rapid removal of obstacles in the trade and transportation sectors, and said Tehran welcomes the exchange of expertise with Baku.

Pezeshkian expressed hope that Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev would travel to Tehran.

Hajiyev, for his part, said Azerbaijan attaches special significance to ties with Iran and seeks further promotion of mutual relations.

He hailed his talks with Iranian authorities in Tehran and conveyed an invitation from the Azerbaijani president to his Iranian counterpart to pay a visit to Baku as soon as possible.