TEHRAN – Medi Sanaei, the Iranian president’s adviser and former Russian envoy adviser, has become Iran’s second official to raise concerns over the expanded footprint of Washington’s Caucasus, warning that the current situation is foreseeable that will raise tensions in the region in the future.
“Iran welcomes peace among its neighbors and does not oppose the removal of blockages from transport routes,” Sanaei writes about X.
Under a deal signed between Azerbaijan and Armenia in Washington on Friday, Armenia recognized the US’s exclusive right to develop corridors in South Sheenik, crossing the border with Iran.
The contract is not binding and must first be approved by the Armenian Parliament before implementation begins, but alarms within Iran have already increased, and have long opposed the existence of foreign troops in the region. Iran has argued that corridors linking mainland Azerbaijan and corridors linking to inland exclusives near Iran should not be under third state control.
Analysts also warn that Iran’s historic border changes with Armenia will change the geopolitical order in the South Caucasus and limit Tehran’s ability to use transport networks in the region. Security concerns also surge with fears that Washington could exploit corridors as a espionage platform against Iran.
Previously, Ali Verayati, the leader of the Islamic Revolution, was Ali Khamenei’s senior advisor to the leader of the Islamic Revolution, and said Iran would prevent the establishment of a US-controlled corridor in Armenia “with or without Russia.” Moscow, a traditional broker between Armenia and Azerbaijan, is on the sidelines by Washington.
“The security of the South Caucasus is related to the implementation of this plot…and Iran emphasized that it will move towards stability in the South Caucasus, with or without Russia,” Velayati told Tasnim News.
The former Iranian foreign minister added that the corridors will also lead to an increase in the presence of the US and North Atlantic Treaty Organizations (NATO) in the region. “We will not allow NATO to approach Iran’s northern border.”