TEHRAN – Kayhan analyzed the goals behind the establishment of the Zanjur Corridor after signing an agreement on Friday between White House President Azerbaijani and Armenian Prime Minister in front of Donald Trump.
It writes: Zanjur’s corridor linking the Republic of Azerbaijan with Naktiban and Turkish territory is an ostensibly development-oriented transport project, but inwardly carries a strategic message directly targeting the transport economies of Iran, Russia and China. Iran’s traditional role as a safe and inexpensive passage for energy and commodity transportation between Central Asia, China, the Caucasus and Europe has always been a key element of the local status. The completion of Zangezur will significantly reduce this role as direct communication between the Republic of Azerbaijan, Turkey and beyond will be possible without the need to pass through Iranian territory. From an economic standpoint, the most important outcomes of this project are the decline in transport revenue and the weakening of Iran’s position in projects such as the China Belt and Road Initiative. The corridor weakens negotiation power in regional markets by removing Iran from the pipeline and railway network. Zangezur is a project with a wide range of geopolitical goals aimed at strengthening NATO and Western influence in the South Caucasus and weakening Iran, Russia and China.
Iran: Tehran will not stop Lebanon’s support
Former Iranian Ambassador to Lebanon, Ahmad Dustmartian, told Iranian newspapers that it would not stop Lebanon from stabilizing it as the government voted to disarm Hezbollah. He said: The decision made by the Lebanese government regarding disarmament in Hezbollah is not unrelated to intervention by inter-regional actors such as the US and France. Naturally, Iran’s view is based on the outcome of this intervention and on the warnings regarding the damage to the interests of Lebanon and local parties. All Lebanese joint groups somehow relate to their beneficiary countries. Iran is no exception to this rule. Lebanon’s multi-religious and diverse political character has led Iran to constantly emphasize within the battlefield and maintain an internal balance. Iran has long been proud to support resistance and has always defended the Lebanese people against the brutal evil and attacks of the Zionist regime.
Farhikhtegan: Nobel Peace Prize winner defends attackers
In the commentary, Fahhictagan addressed a speech by Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Narju Mohammadi at a conference where Nobel Prize Laureate Nihon Hidankyo is campaigning for nuclear weapons via video links from Iran on the anniversary of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki atomic bombs. The paper said: Narges Mohammadi was to emphasize peace at the meeting, but it turned out to be the opposite. Instead of blaming the bombers (attackers), she denounced the people of Iran. Instead of condemning decades of nuclear threats, sanctions, assassinations of scientists and attacks on Iranian infrastructure, she introduced Iran as the source of all the problems of the kind of language that Western think tanks pose. The speech was not only a spirit of peace, but also seemed to be a continuation of the same language used in the 12-day declaration of war, undermining Iran’s sovereignty and justifying foreign attacks. The ceremony should have been a forum to condemn the government that carried out this nuclear bombing. However, the winners denounced Iran rather than denounced the US. Considered a symbol of the struggle for peace and justice, the Nobel Peace Prize has now become a tool for advancement of Western policies and a speaker for repeating Western hostile stances towards Iran.
Donya-e-eqtesad: “Trump Route” on the Caucasus Road
In the analysis, Donya Ektesad addressed the outcome of the signing of an agreement between the Republic of Azerbaijan and Armenia connecting mainland Azerbaijan through Armenian lands with the autonomous republic of Nakichiban. It writes: Baku and Yerevan were guests of the White House for a “historical peace conference” called the “Trump Route.” Convening such a conference is considered a pivot in foreign policy towards the West. However, this process does not mean that it does not affect Iran. It opposes changes to the northern border adjacent to the South Caucasus region, while highlighting neighbouring policies. This corridor provides the free movement of people and goods from Turkey and the Republic of Azerbaijan and from there to Central Asia without the need to pass through Iran or Russian territory. Iran and Russia are opposed to the project, and Turkey is strongly supportive of it. The two countries are former Soviet republics, but ties with Moscow have been strained in recent years. Opening the route brings billions of dollars of new trade to the United States each year, reducing the impact of Russia, Iran and China in the region, according to US officials.