“An alternative to the Zangezur corridor is being created. Russia, Iran, and Georgia have started a new plan against the Zangezur corridor.” Political analyst Aydın Quliyev said this in an interview with Medianews.az.
He stated that the alternative to the Zangezur corridor is being created via Georgia: “In parallel, Iran is accelerating the Araz corridor. The goal is to delay and prevent the opening of the corridor passing from Armenia to Nakhchivan.”
So when did this plan start to take effect?
In response to the question, A. Quliyev said that such alternative plans do not have a specific start time. According to him, this is related to regional geopolitics: “The course of processes itself reveals the signs of that plan from time to time. The deep jealousy of Russia and Iran toward the Zangezur corridor was known in advance. Iran sees the corridor as a threat that could change the border regime with Armenia. Russia sees this corridor as a factor weakening its geopolitical role in the region. Over the past year, Baku and Yerevan have moved into a deeper peace process, and this made Georgia also jealous of the Zangezur corridor. Once Georgia did not take the opening of Zangezur seriously and did not consider it a real possibility. It thought that this corridor would not open and that both Baku and Yerevan would see Georgia as the main transit point and would need it. However, time changed many things. As the chances of realizing the Zangezur corridor increased, Georgia’s jealousy began to boil.”
The current Georgian government is more inclined toward Russia and this is advantageous for Russia. Russia believes it would be better if Georgia remained the main transit point in the region. Because in that case, Tbilisi’s position can influence both Baku and Yerevan. Georgia is aware that if the Zangezur corridor opens, the volume of Chinese and Central Asian goods passing through it will decrease, and both Azerbaijan and Armenia will need it less.”
A. Quliyev noted that the involvement of Trump with the Zangezur corridor largely exposed the plans of Iran, Russia, and Georgia: “It can be said with high probability that the alternative plan of the Iranian, Georgian, and Russian tripartite against the Zangezur corridor was revealed when a document was signed in Washington on August 8, 2025. Neither Iran, nor Russia, nor the current Georgian government want the Zangezur corridor to be opened under American patronage at all.”
There are two interconnected variants of the alternative corridor plan for Zangezur:
- The route of the Middle Corridor from China to Europe passing through Georgia. That is, the route going from Central Asia to Azerbaijan and Georgia, partially towards Turkey and Europe.
- The Araz corridor from Azerbaijan's northwest through Iranian territory towards Nakhchivan. Although this route does not fully satisfy Georgia, it forces Iran to constantly maintain an opposing stance toward the Zangezur corridor and support it.
If both variants open, Russia and Iran will say in unison, “Why is there any need for the Zangezur corridor anymore?!”
What do you mean by Iran accelerating the Araz corridor?” the political analyst answered: “By accelerating the alternative corridor, it is meant that Georgia has recently invested heavily in its internal road and logistics infrastructure. For 30 years, Georgia did not do this, and preferred that investments for most of its highways and railways come from other countries. For example, Baku-Tbilisi-Kars. Azerbaijan bore its cost. Now Georgia, without waiting for anyone, is allocating hundreds of millions for renovating all its roads. Why? Isn’t it interesting?”
Iran, on the other hand, is accelerating the construction of the highway crossing on the Araz corridor. Iran’s resistance to the US has encouraged Georgia significantly, making it believe that Iran will show stronger resistance to the opening of the Zangezur corridor. The more Iran resists Zangezur, the more Georgia focuses on being used as an alternative corridor itself.”
When could the alternative corridor be completed?
In response to the site’s question, A. Quliyev stated that the opening of the alternative corridor depends not on a fixed time but on some geopolitical events: “In my opinion, as long as the Iran-US war continues, it will be difficult to open the Zangezur corridor according to the Trump formula. Iran will try to open the highway of the Araz corridor before the Zangezur corridor opens and will then accelerate the construction of the railway to Nakhchivan on the Araz corridor. The more the Zangezur corridor is delayed, the more realistic the alternative corridor becomes.”
How feasible is the realization of the alternative Zangezur corridor plan?
According to A. Quliyev, the continuation of the US-Iran war situation and the secret collaboration of the current government of Georgia with Russia significantly strengthen the possibility of the emergence of an alternative to the Zangezur corridor: “More precisely, with these two factors present, the opening of the Zangezur corridor becomes impossible.”
Nailə Qasımova,
Medianews.az