Zangezur Corridor

The Zangezur Corridor is a proposed transportation route intended to connect mainland Azerbaijan with its exclave Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic by passing through Armenia’s Syunik Province (historically called Zangezur).

1. Geographic Context

• Mainland Azerbaijan is separated from Nakhchivan by southern Armenia (Syunik Province).

• Iran lies immediately south of Syunik, and Turkey borders Nakhchivan to the west.

• The corridor would run roughly east–west, cutting across southern Armenia near the towns of Meghri and Kapan.

2. Political Background

• The idea of the corridor emerged prominently after the Second Nagorno-Karabakh War (Sep–Nov 2020).

• The November 10, 2020 trilateral ceasefire agreement between Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Russia (brokered by Moscow) included Clause 9, which states that:

• All economic and transport links in the region shall be unblocked.

• Armenia shall guarantee transport links between western Azerbaijan and Nakhchivan, under the supervision of the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) Border Guard Service.

• Azerbaijan interprets this as granting an extraterritorial corridor free of Armenian customs or border checks;

Armenia insists it only agreed to reopen routes under Armenian sovereignty.

3. Strategic Importance

For Azerbaijan:

• Direct land connection to Nakhchivan and, via Turkey, to the rest of the Turkic world (“pan-Turkic” vision).

Reduces dependence on routes through Iran.

For Turkey:

• Creates a direct link with Azerbaijan without crossing Iranian territory.

• Fits into the “Middle Corridor” trade strategy linking Turkey–Caucasus–Central Asia–China.

For Russia:

• Extends Russian military/border guard presence in Armenia.

• Gives Moscow leverage over regional trade routes.

For Armenia:

• Risk of losing control over a key strip of territory in Syunik.

• However, reopening routes could restore rail/road access to Russia via Azerbaijan.

For Iran:

• Strongly opposes any extraterritorial corridor cutting it off from Armenia.

• Has increased military presence near the Armenia–Iran border.

4. Current Status (2025)

• No fully functional corridor yet. Negotiations are deadlocked.

• Azerbaijan has built infrastructure on its side up to the Armenian border.

• Armenia has pushed for reopening existing Soviet-era rail lines under Armenian law, not as a sovereign Azerbaijani route.

• Iran has joined Armenia in opposing the “corridor” concept, favoring regular transit under Armenian jurisdiction.

• Tensions in 2021–2023 saw occasional border skirmishes and mutual accusations.

5. Historical Roots

• The Zangezur region was historically contested between Armenia and Azerbaijan after the collapse of the Russian Empire (1918–1921).

• The Soviet Union awarded Zangezur to the Armenian SSR, isolating Nakhchivan from mainland Azerbaijan.

• Rail and road connections did exist in Soviet times, but they were severed after the First Nagorno-Karabakh War (1990s).

6. Wider Geopolitical Implications

• China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI): The corridor could serve as part of an east–west route bypassing Russia and Iran.

• EU interest: Alternative connectivity to Central Asia without relying on Russia.

• Potential flashpoint: If Azerbaijan tries to establish the corridor by force, it could trigger regional escalation involving Turkey, Iran, and Russia.