Tehran – Ali Akbar Velayati, senior adviser to the leader of the Islamic Revolution on International Affairs, has reaffirmed that the Islamic Republic will take crucial action to protect the stability and security of Russia with or in Russia.
The deal, signed on Friday in front of US President Donald Trump, comes after decades of conflict over Karabakh, following the rapid recapture of Azerbaijan region in September 2023. The full contract is not published, but it focuses on creating trade and transport routes that will blow away the “extraordinary spread of Trump” that will blow away “Trump’s envelopes.” territory.
Under the arrangement, Washington has gained more exclusive development rights than the corridors, and the White House claims to boost the region’s energy exports. However, Verayati warned that the so-called Trump corridor would re-draw the boundaries, segregating Armenia and severely restricting Iran’s own access to the Caucasus, leaving it alone in Turkey.
“Is the South Caucasus a land that Trump has no owners to lease?” Verayati told Tasnim. “This is one of the most sensitive areas in the world. Such a section will not become Trump’s property. It will become a cemetery for his mercenary.”
He described Trump’s remarks as “naive” and “hollow” and likened them to “someone who decided to lease the Panama Canal.” The veteran diplomat stressed that the plan was not a commercial project, but a geopolitical plot, a geopolitical plot that would bring NATO forces through Turkey and other members.
“We will not allow NATO to approach Iran, as NATO warned of President Putin’s invasion of Russia through Ukraine,” Velayati said. “Prevention is better than treatment.”
Recalling past Iranian military preparations, Velayati pointed out that under the late Lt. Gen. Mohammad Bageyeri, he had signed his resolve to hold multiple drills in northwestern Iran in the northwestern part of Iran, signaling his determination to block Tehran’s projects. He also pointed to Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s previous visit to Tehran. Meanwhile, Armenian leaders reportedly recognized the nature of the corridor’s “conspiracy” and expressed an agreement with Iran’s opposition.
We argued that the route transports Caspia’s energy, Belayati repeated that the ocean belongs only to coastal states and transport requires collective consent. He said joint Iranian-Russia training is intended to provide clear warnings to foreign actors in recent weeks.
Velayati further emphasized that linking Naktiban to the mainland does not require such corridors as linking Azerbaijan can make connections through Iranian territory. “The geopolitical balance here isn’t just Azerbaijan and Armenia. Change will affect Iran’s borders and we will fully protect our interests,” he argued.
He concluded by praising the vigilance of Iran’s northern provinces from Western Azerbaijan to Mazandaran and Khorasan by resisting foreign plots throughout history.
In another statement, the Iranian Foreign Ministry welcomed the Armenia-Azabaijan peace agreement as a “critical step towards stability” while warning of the dangers of foreign interference.
The ministry said it supports regional connectivity projects that respect national sovereignty and territorial integrity and is ready to work with both Baku and Yerevan through mechanisms such as the 3+3 regional cooperation platform.
Tehran also highlighted its perception of long-standing Western ambitions to expand its influence from the Caucasus to Central Asia. This is a strategy aimed at sequestering Iran and Russia while controlling smaller regional provinces.
In a statement made on Saturday, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Maria Zakhalova emphasized the need to normalize relations between the two countries based on mutual interests, without interference from external forces.
Zakharova said the Russian Federation is trying to create a “stable and prosperous region” in the South Caucasus, with one of the main conditions of this goal being “a comprehensive normalization of relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia,” taking into account the interests of the people of both countries.
By Soheila Zarfam