Tensions over the long-running Zangezur Corridor dispute in the South Caucasus have resurfaced, fueled by intensified U.S. diplomatic pressure on Azerbaijan and Armenia to reach a peace deal. In response, Iran has officially proposed an alternative route — the so-called Aras Corridor — that would link Azerbaijan to its Nakhchivan exclave via Iranian territory.
Washington portrays the Zangezur Corridor as a “peace and prosperity project” that could unlock a lasting settlement between Baku and Yerevan. Iranian officials, however, call it a “geopolitical conspiracy,” arguing that it would eliminate Iran’s strategic border with Armenia and leave the country encircled by unfriendly powers.
The Iranian plan would connect Azerbaijan and Nakhchivan through Iran’s northern provinces, bypassing Armenian territory entirely. Tehran hopes the route will prevent any regional border changes while generating transit revenue. Reports indicate that Iran and Azerbaijan have already signed agreements for bridge and highway construction as part of the project.
Baku now finds itself in a strategic position — able to choose between the U.S.-backed Zangezur Corridor, Iran’s Aras Corridor, or use both as leverage in broader diplomatic negotiations. While it remains unclear whether only one route will proceed, the competing proposals have created a new corridor rivalry in the South Caucasus.
