Four aspects of why the west is greedy for the imaginary corridor of Zangzor

According to Tasnim International News Agency, Tehran is very worried about geopolitical changes in its borders, especially in an area that is historically and security-critical for it. The creation of the Zangzor Corridor could lead to strategic changes in Iran's northern borders, and Tehran considers this as a threat to its national security. The creation of this corridor has opened the way for greater US and NATO influence in the region, and considering Iran's complex relations with the West, Tehran strongly rejects any further presence and influence of Westerners near its borders and emphasizes that such a development can lead to lead to an increase in tensions in the region.

The importance of Zangzor for the West

From the point of view of Westerners, the mythical Zangzor Corridor will be an important geographical area in the South Caucasus, which will be of great importance for the countries of the region and the world powers in terms of geostrategy and geopolitics. This corridor forms the border between Armenia and the Republic of Azerbaijan and will play a vital role in land connections between Nakhchivan (Autonomous Republic of Azerbaijan) and the rest of Azerbaijan.

From a western perspective, the analysis of this corridor can be analyzed in four main dimensions: technical and infrastructural dimensions, economic needs, regional interactions, and influence policies.

• Technical and infrastructure dimensions
  From the western point of view, the development of the Zangzor Corridor requires advanced infrastructure that includes roads, railways, and communication networks. According to them, these infrastructures will not only help improve international transportation, but can also open new trade routes between Central Asia and Europe. From a technical point of view, Western countries are apparently looking for participation in infrastructure projects in order to play an important role in the economic development of the region, but at the same time, they are thinking of expanding their influence in this region.
• Economic needs
  The fact is that the economy of the countries of the region, especially the Republic of Azerbaijan and Armenia, is highly dependent on the opening of new transit corridors. The justification of the Westerners for laying hands on this controversial corridor is that this axis can act as an important passage for the transfer of energy (especially oil and gas) from the Caspian Sea to the world markets. Also, this corridor can help facilitate trade and increase foreign investments. In contrast to Russia, Western countries are looking to use this opportunity to reduce their dependence on Russian energy sources and strengthen energy security.
• Regional interactions
  On the face of it, Westerners say that the Zangzor Corridor can help improve relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia, which in turn will increase stability in the South Caucasus region. But in principle, this corridor can strengthen the regional cooperation between the Caucasus countries, Turkey, and the European Union, and in other words, it is in line with strengthening the interests of Europe. Of course, regional cooperation leads to reducing tensions and creating a suitable platform for diplomacy and conflict resolution.
• Russia's influence and reduction policies from the point of view of Western countries
  The Zangzor Corridor can be used as a tool to reduce Russia's influence in the Caucasus region. Russia has traditionally had a high influence in this region and has benefited from its role as a mediator and mediator in regional conflicts. By strengthening the infrastructure and expanding the economic and trade interactions in the Zangzor Corridor, the Westerners hope that the dependence of the countries of the region on Russia will decrease and its influence in the domestic and foreign policies of these countries will decrease. It is an important geopolitical tool to reduce Russian influence and strengthen Western influence in the South Caucasus region. Westerners are looking to use this corridor to expand trade, strengthen regional cooperation, and increase their energy security. For this reason, attention and investment in this project are among the priorities of the West.

Positions of countries in the region

The positions of Türkiye and the Republic of Azerbaijan regarding the Zangzor Corridor can be analyzed in the framework of the close and strategic relations between the two countries. This corridor passes through Sivnik region in the south of Armenia, it is of vital importance for Azerbaijan. This corridor connects Azerbaijan to Nakhchivan region and from there to Turkey and improves Azerbaijan's access to Turkey. The Republic of Azerbaijan has continuously emphasized the need to establish this disputed corridor.

It argues that Armenia is obligated to provide the corridor under the 2020 ceasefire agreement brokered by Russia after the Second Nagorno-Karabakh War. According to Azerbaijan, this corridor is not only a transportation route, but also a symbol of the country's military victory in Karabakh. Türkiye, as one of the main supporters of the Republic of Azerbaijan, strongly supports this project. Ankara sees the Zangzor Corridor as an important step in strengthening economic, trade and energy connections between Turkey, Azerbaijan and other Turkic-speaking countries in Central Asia.

From Turkey's point of view, this corridor not only strengthens economic relations with Azerbaijan, but also increases Turkey's geopolitical influence in the South Caucasus and Central Asia. However, Armenia and some of its international allies oppose the creation of the Zangzor Corridor, as they see it as a threat to Armenia's territorial integrity and disrupting the regional power balance.

In general, Iran's policy towards the imaginary Zangzor Corridor has been focused on preserving national interests, preventing security threats and increasing regional influence through diplomatic and economic means. According to senior officials of Turkey and the West, as well as Armenia, Iran has been the main obstacle to the imposition of this corridor and geopolitical change in the region. Iran is trying to prevent any geopolitical changes that are detrimental to Tehran by balancing its relations with its neighbors and regional powers.

What is expected from Moscow is that in exchange for Iran's efforts in preventing the influence of the West and NATO through the Zangzor Corridor during the last two years when Russia was busy on the Ukrainian front, it has shown that it understands the priorities and sensitivities of this region for Tehran and pays attention to it. slow It is expected that Russia will follow a cautious and multilateral policy towards the Zangzor Corridor and try to maintain its influence in the region and counter the expansion of Turkish and NATO influence, as well as strengthen its cooperation with Iran and other countries in the region.

It is expected that Russia, by balancing its relations with various actors, will not jeopardize its strategic interests in the South Caucasus and beyond, and the interests of its regional partners.

Author: Masoumeh Mohammadi, an expert on Eurasian issues

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