Tensions are rising in the South Caucasus as Iran steps up its warnings about American involvement in the newly agreed Zangezur Corridor deal between Armenia and Azerbaijan.
Tehran sees this move as a dangerous intrusion that could upset the fragile regional balance and is calling out both countries for placing too much trust in the U.S.
Comparing to Past Mistakes: Iran’s Sharp Criticism
Yadollah Javani, the Deputy Head of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) for political affairs, didn’t hold back.
He accused Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan of making what he described as “Zelensky’s mistake”—relying heavily on the United States for regional security, which he warns could have serious repercussions.
“If Aliyev and Pashinyan had thought more about the consequences of inviting the U.S., UK, and NATO into the Caucasus, they wouldn’t have played Trump’s gambling game,” Javani said bluntly.
He also warned that Iran, alongside India and Russia, would not stand by quietly as the situation develops.
The Controversial 99-Year U.S. Control Agreement
This backlash comes shortly after Armenia and Azerbaijan signed a peace agreement granting an American company control over the Zangezur Corridor for nearly a century.
This corridor is strategically important as it connects two parts of Azerbaijan through Armenian territory, and U.S. private military companies are expected to secure it.
Javani was clear in his opposition: “The American dream of being on Iran’s northern borders will never become reality.”
He vowed that Tehran would vigorously protect its security and national interests in the area.
Iran’s Top Officials Voice Deep Concerns
Ali Akbar Velayati, a senior adviser to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, echoed these concerns and described the project as a threat to the South Caucasus’s security.
He cautioned that it could expand NATO’s footprint in the region and strain the alliance between Russia and Iran.
“We will block what they call Trump’s Bridge. This project will become a graveyard for the American president’s mercenaries,” Velayati warned, signaling Iran’s readiness to confront the initiative head-on.
A Softer Stance from Iran’s Foreign Ministry
While hardliners issued sharp warnings, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi took a more measured approach.
He noted that the Zangezur Corridor issue has been taken off the formal diplomatic agenda but emphasized that Tehran will watch developments closely.
Araghchi reminded that the corridor officially remains under Armenian jurisdiction, hinting at diplomatic avenues still in play.
The U.S. Push to Expand Regional Infrastructure
The deal, formalized on August 8 in Washington by the U.S., Armenia, and Azerbaijan leaders, includes plans for a railway, oil and gas pipelines, and fiber-optic cables all managed by the American company overseeing the corridor.
According to reports, Armenia initially resisted the arrangement but ultimately agreed after considerable pressure from the U.S.